Astounded by the remains of the cult nestled on Devil's Mountain.
Berlin's Teufelsberg Transforms into a Global Street Art Hub
The Teufelsberg in Berlin, once a Cold War U.S. listening station, has evolved into one of the world’s largest open-air galleries for street art. This transformation took place after the site was abandoned, and street artists began using it as a canvas for elaborate graffiti murals and installations[1][2][3].
Initially, the site was plundered and defaced night after night by thieves, adventurers, and graffiti artists[1]. However, the owner of the Teufelsberg embraced this artistic invasion, cultivating street art on the decaying military buildings atop the artificial hill[1]. Today, the site's unique combination of historic Cold War ruins and extensive street art makes it a unique cultural landmark and a must-visit destination in Berlin[2][3].
The exterior staircase leads to the domes, whose aluminum skeleton remains stable despite 30 years of neglect, while the covering fabric is in tatters[1]. Inside, the building under the famous domes has no more windows, and several floors are partitioned with painted walls[1]. Yet, the interior rooms can still be used carefully, with a canteen and an event floor with a view over the entire city available for rental[1].
While other buildings on the site are carefully painted and protected as historical monuments, the building under the domes serves as a living, breathing canvas for street art[1]. The young audience who visit the Teufelsberg come to admire the monstrous graffiti[1]. Visitors must pay an entrance fee to access the site[1].
The preservation and accessibility of the remains of the old US listening stations at Teufelsberg are overseen by Joachim F. Meier and Stefanie Reichelt[4][5]. Meier, an experienced Berlin manager, and Reichelt, the founder of the "ArtCell Gallery" in Cambridge, are tasked with ensuring the site's continued growth as a street art hub[4][5].
The Greens initially rebelled against plans for the Teufelsberg, which included a conference center, hotel, and exclusive apartments[6]. However, the site's natural decay may have been exacerbated by these actions[7]. Gunnar Schupelius questions whether the left-green scene's hostile reflex towards private investors is justified in the case of Teufelsberg[8].
For further discussion on this topic, you can contact Gunnar Schupelius at [email protected][8].
[1] [source1] [2] [source2] [3] [source3] [4] [source4] [5] [source5] [6] [source6] [7] [source7] [8] [source8]
The Teufelsberg's evolution into a global street art hub extended to incorporating home-and-garden elements, with the building under the domes functioning as a living, breathing canvas for street art. The unique lifestyle that the site offers draws in a young audience who come to marvel at the monstrous graffiti.
