The Haus des Lehrers on Alexanderplatz in Berlin has made the headlines over the past year, and has within this time become increasingly recognised as a space for temporary use. The small companies, which represent the gamut of self-employed professions in Berlin, became a community which was increasingly defined by collaborative actions, and whose perception of the city space, and particularly Alexanderplatz which faces such radical change, was altered and defined by the collective temporary use of the building. The tenants organised exhibitions, events, and urban actions. Haus des Lehrers became the synonym for a collective spirit which is involved in reanimating spaces in the city which can be occupied for a limited period. Haus des Lehrers symbolised a way of life which has increasingly established itself through the in-between and temporary spaces which Berlin had to offer. "During a short period of two years, the Haus des Lehrers was used in a way which is thoroughly attuned to its actual structure, and to its typology as a collective building. The result was a self-organised, heterogeneous collection of tenants, made up of artists, multimedia creatives, architects, all of whom were working independently, outside the boundaries of state control - in contrast to the purpose for which the building was originally conceived, namely as a centre for the GDR state authorities” - Urs Füssler, architect and former tenant.

urban drift 2001 / Panel 03