Berlin Quote by Ian Fleming
““That all these buildings strike me and most Berliners as quite hideous cannot alter the fact that only by these vertical means could the government of West Berlin have managed to tuck away nearly half a million inhabitants in something over ten years, and one only has to go over to the Eastern Sector and drive down the pretentious turn-of-the-century Tiflis-style Stalin Allee to accept the fact that all the ‘new world’, independent of nationality, is getting more and more hideous every day.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Berlin architecture, 1960s
The quote critiques the aesthetic ugliness of West Berlin’s high‑rise housing while acknowledging its necessity for accommodating a large population, contrasting it with the even uglier new world developments.
In simple terms: High‑rise buildings are ugly but needed for housing; new developments are increasingly unattractive.
Key Takeaway
Recognize functional needs despite visual dislike.
Themes
urban planning
architecture
population density
aesthetic criticism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- city planning meetings
- housing policy debates
- urban redevelopment projects
- public opinion surveys
Key Concepts
modernism
housing policy
social engineering
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve the visual quality of necessary housing?
- What trade‑offs are acceptable between function and form?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overlook the potential for better design solutions that combine functionality with aesthetic appeal.
![“It is advertising that enthrones the customer as king. This infuriates the socialist...[it is] the crossing of the boundary between West Berlin and East Berlin. It is Checkpoint Charlie, or rather Checkpoint Douglas, the transition from the world of choice and freedom to the world of drab…” quote by Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d6c/enoch-powell-13156_advertising_it-is-advertising-that-enthrones-the-cus_1553326.jpg)
