Die Wiesenburg is a former homeless
shelter in Berlin. Built in 1896, the shelter was privately funded due to the dire
need for homeless shelters in the city during the early 1900’s. At the entrance
of the living quarters hang two signs, one of which is a general entrance sign and
the other lists the shelter’s former rules: no drunkenness or being loud, no
playing cards for money, no smoking tobacco and no drinking cognac. Another
stipulation was that the homeless people receive 12 hours of shelter before
having to leave. The homeless shelter originally accepted only males until a female
asylum was added in the year 1900. The Wiesenburg shelter could host 700 males
and 400 females and provided not only a bed for the night but also washing and
hygiene services. With many walls and almost the entire roof missing, it is
evident that the asylum was heavily damaged during World War II. A very spooky
feeling permeates the asylum. The roof is in pieces, walls are coming down, and
there are old steel beams rusting away. There are also old busted beams, broken
windows, and furniture present. One can easily see why this ruin has acted as a
set for different movies and short films. Unfortunately, our tour was one of
the last. The City of Berlin has taken over the land where the ruin now stands
and has shut down the area due to safety hazards. Included below are pictures of the ruins of
the former homeless shelter, Die Wiesenburg.
5 comments:
This tour was different in that it was an exploration of a ruin. It wasn't cleaned up nor were there little blurbs explaining what you were seeing like a museum. Do you feel like this kind of learning of the past is more or less effective than a more traditional, or cleaned up approach?
I think it is definitely good to see both since both give a different feel and different experience. I like visiting formal museums since I learn a lot from the accompanying text about the context of the exhibit. A ruin is interesting in a way that it shows the reality of the natural way something has changed over time. It was interesting to see a structure that was so old and our tour guide did provide us with context about the building. So, in answer to your question I would say that since museums and ruins are completely different learning experiences, a combination of both would give the best learning opportunity!
I think it is definitely good to see both since both give a different feel and different experience. I like visiting formal museums since I learn a lot from the accompanying text about the context of the exhibit. A ruin is interesting in a way that it shows the reality of the natural way something has changed over time. It was interesting to see a structure that was so old and our tour guide did provide us with context about the building. So, in answer to your question I would say that since museums and ruins are completely different learning experiences, a combination of both would give the best learning opportunity!
Keir, I didn't record that in my field notes however I think I remember our guide stating that that was related to hygiene. I can't remember if that was the room where the prisoners' clothes were washed or if that is where the prisoners washed themselves.
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