Dresden! DAY 1

We spent two days in Dresden and the weather was absolutely lovely for it!

Dresden was heavily bombed by Americans during World War II and since then has been doing a lot of rebuilding. A lot of it's a bit controversial as buildings often are.. whether they reflect the old style architecture or rebuild new? And why? and how?

This is why architects have white hairs and many bags under their eyes.

Libeskind's addition to the Military History Museum.
The interruption of the addition to show that this military
history is not perfect.

Tanks on display by the museum. Germans are actually
ones of the most peaceful people nowadays. They know
that war isn't the answer. 

one of the oldest churches

for rainwater symphonies

parking for Italians only

skyline of pretty buildings

Thought this was funny looking

ice creams!!! my lovelies

front of Zwinger Museum 

inside courtyard of Zwinger 

another interior courtyard 

another church thing. dark clouds! 

zomg Bauhaus.

Sorry, all my posts in Germany are going to be about architecture! SO, my program took us to Dessau! It was suuuch an archie field day and very unreal to be standing in front of the Bauhaus since we learned all about it in school.

But first we went to the Umweltbundesamt, the Federal Environmental Agency in Dessau. It is this sustainable building, mainly in the areas of lighting, heating and cooling with geothermal energy. This was also a very archie nerd moment to see such a beautiful office. A criticisms I would have is the uneven shadows cast into the windows of the office spaces made by the triangulated steel structure of the roof. Though it creates this fascinating shadow, I can't imagine working under it. But other than that, I love the interior promenade that gives its inhabitants a strong connection to nature.

Then we walked to the Bauhaus and we saw the very beginnings of modern design!

interior!

library

book exchange

public crossword puzzle

Bauhaus student's dorms

Watler Gropius's Desk and chair

famous Bauhaus chair

big door details

looking up all the stairs

Klee and Kandinsky's home!

famous view

train station at Liepzig

We went to Potsdamer Platz three times this week...

This was the last time, thankfully.

Zaha Hadid's building at the very end

some museum

Renzo Piano's open mall

model!!!

Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall 

Mies van der Rohe- Neue National Galerie

really cool "moonlight" store in the day time

Bunker

inside the bunker!

"moonlight" store at night! 

Day of Memorials!

We went on a tour with our teacher and saw a bagillion memorials! Also Obama was here in Berlin! We saw a lot of the preparations for his speech and visit but it was a major inconvenience for us--it was like the Berlin Wall was built up again.

Soviet Memorial in Berlin

Schinkel Museum in Mitte

Holocaust Memorial

Holocaust Memorial- they put stones like this
all over the city

another Holocaust Memorial dedicated to the children
who left on the nighttrain 

a govt building

another govt building! supposed to be like a ribbon,
connecting east to west

Reichstag. REALLY WANT TO GO IN

Brandenburger Tor

setting up for Obama! 

sewer! 

memorial to the homosexuals

Another Jewish Holocaust Memorial with little girl! 

Jewish Holocaust Memorial--surreal like a rendering

names of victim

barricades.. took a long walk

LEGO GIRAFFE!!! 

Sony Center

the police barrier!