Genius über Loci. Analysis of Kreuzberg urban issues, from IBA-87 to date, focusing on its Muslim identity. A case study: Orhan Gazi Kulturverein, Kreuzberg, Berlin.

The work on this master thesis started during an Erasmus exchange period in Berlin and it was the city itself who inspired the research that follows. The aim of the work is to provide an actual analysis of Kreuzberg neighbourhood in relation to its ethnically heterogeneous identity, in order to promote its own empowerment as it is nowadays. Before dealing with the current situation, the work offers an overview about IBA-1987’s critical reconstruction and careful urban renewal in Kreuzberg, which characterized its architectural form more than anything else. Related to that, it will be presented Oswald Mathias Ungers’ urban theory about Berlin and the more general ones by Aldo Rossi. These theories will be the “trait d’union” between IBA-1987 and IBA-2020. The later analysis of the actual inhabitants of Kreuzberg will lead to the Muslim migrants’ question that characterised the neighbourhood during the second half of XX century, first as a growing phenomenon to handle and later as a permanent settlement which features social and urban relations. The Muslim belonging in Kreuzberg will be presented thanks to the Open Society Institute survey and will be linked to the urban discourse through the anthropological studies about place identity, place attachment and sense of place. Following, the thesis will move toward the Muslim worship places question, in order to present its identity strengthening measures for Kreuzberg. Starting from an overview about Muslim Religious Organisations of Berlin, it will be possible to map every mosque all over the city and then, it will be presented an itinerary of Kreuzberg ones. After defining uses and needs of the neighbourhood inhabitants, the work will focus on a single Mosque to suggest some architectural strategies and scenario to strengthen its identity, which could be used also for others Muslim worship places as well. The conclusions will summarise the studies presented and, from there, will highlight the overcoming of the classical concept of Genius Loci, presenting the contemporary one of Genius Vivendi.