Title: Concepts of pride, brand, and communication: architecture, urban design, and knowledge production: Berlin from 1810 to 2010

Authors: Klaus Brake, Celina Kress

Addresses: Center for Metropolitan Studies, Berlin University of Technology, Ernst Reuter-Platz 7, D-10587 Berlin, Germany. ' Center for Metropolitan Studies, Berlin University of Technology, Ernst Reuter-Platz 7, D-10587 Berlin, Germany

Abstract: Embedding universities and research institutions in the urban fabric and deliberate architectural statements are gaining in importance. In an increasingly knowledge-orientated economy, architectural concepts aim to stimulate general curiosity about knowledge production and boost scientific-economic interaction. It is generally accepted that the built environment plays an important role in facilitating communication and knowledge flows, but little research has been invested into better understanding the |how| and |why|. With four case studies – considering a wide spectrum of different spatial types of scholarly institutions in Berlin: the centrally located Humboldt University and the Berlin University of Technology, and the Free University and the Adlershof Campus situated on the periphery – this paper reviews how each has specifically intended to intensify knowledge flows in the city and beyond. The historical analysis shows that these aims have always been important for the planning and realisation of universities in Berlin and have had a central impact on the formation of Berlin|s urban identity over the last 200 years.

Keywords: architecture; urban design; knowledge production; knowledge cities; public space; knowledge spill-over; urban growth; Berlin; Germany; pride; brand; communication; knowledge-based development; urban development; built environment; knowledge flows; universities; higher education; urban identity; research institutions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2011.041249

International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 2011 Vol.2 No.2, pp.220 - 246

Published online: 28 Nov 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article