Editing Alexanderplatz (section)

==History==
[[File:Alexanderplatz 1912.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} in 1912]]
[[File:BVG KT4D mod.JPG|thumb|Tram passing the [[World Clock (Alexanderplatz)|World Clock]]]]
[[File:Alexander Platz.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} in 2013]]

===Early history to the 18th century===
A hospital stood at the location of present-day {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} since the 13th century. Named {{lang|de|Heiliger Georg}} (St. George), the hospital gave its name to the nearby {{lang|de|Georgentor}} (George Gate) of the [[Defensive wall|Berlin city wall]]. Outside the city walls, this area was largely undeveloped until around 1400, when the first settlers began building [[thatching|thatched cottages]]. As a [[gallows]] was located close by, the area earned the nickname the {{lang|de|Teufels Lustgarten}} ('Devil's Pleasure Garden').<ref name=":1">''Aus der Geschichte des Alexanderplatzes'', BZA, Teil 1: ''Foltergebühr: 10 Schillinge''.</ref>
[[File:Memhardt, Bodenehr Berlin und Cölln 1652 (1720).jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Memhardt Plan|italic=no}} from 1652 with {{lang|de|Georgentor|italic=no}}]]
The George Gate became the most important of Berlin's city gates during the 16th century, being the main entry point for goods arriving along the roads to the north and north-east of the city, for example from {{lang|de|Oderberg|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|Prenzlau|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|Bernau|italic=no}}, and the big [[Hanseatic Cities|Hanseatic cities]] on the [[Baltic Sea]].

After the [[Thirty Years' War]], the city wall was strengthened. From 1658 to 1683, a citywide [[Berlin Fortress|fortress]] was constructed to plans by the [[Linz]] master builder, {{lang|de|[[Johann Gregor Memhardt]]|italic=no}}. The new fortress contained 13 bastions connected by ramparts and was preceded by a moat measuring up to {{convert|50|m}} wide. Within the new fortress, many of the historic city wall gates were closed. For example, the southeastern {{lang|de|Stralauer|italic=no}} Gate was closed but the Georgian Gate remained open, making the Georgian Gate an even more important entrance to the city.

In 1681, the trade of cattle and pig fattening was banned within the city. [[Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg|Frederick William, the Great Elector]], granted cheaper plots of land, waiving the basic interest rate, in the area in front of the Georgian Gate. Settlements grew rapidly and a weekly cattle market was established on the square in front of the Gate.

The area developed into a suburb – the {{lang|de|Georgenvorstadt}} – which continued to flourish into the late 17th century. Unlike the southwestern suburbs ({{lang|de|[[Friedrichstadt (Berlin)|Friedrichstadt]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Dorotheenstadt]]|italic=no}}) which were strictly and geometrically planned, the suburbs in the northeast ({{lang|de|Georgenvorstadt|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|Spandauervorstadt|italic=no}} and the {{lang|de|Stralauer Vorstadt|italic=no}}) proliferated without plan. Despite a building ban imposed in 1691, more than 600 houses existed in the area by 1700.

At that time, the George Gate was a rectangular gatehouse with a tower. Next to the tower stood a remaining tower from the original [[middle Ages|medieval]] city walls. The upper floors of the gatehouse served as the city jail.<ref>Serie ''Aus der Geschichte des Alexanderplatzes'', T. 2: ''Rüger auf der Lauer''.</ref> A drawbridge spanned the moat and the gate was locked at nightfall by the garrison using heavy oak planks.

A highway ran through the cattle market to the northeast towards {{lang|de|[[Bernau bei Berlin|Bernau]]|italic=no}}. To the right stood the George chapel, an orphanage and a hospital that was donated by the Elector [[Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg|Sophie Dorothea]] in 1672. Next to the chapel stood a dilapidated medieval [[plague house]] which was demolished in 1716. Behind it was a rifleman's field and an inn, later named the {{lang|de|Stelzenkrug}}.

By the end of the 17th century, 600 to 700 families lived in this area. They included butchers, cattle herders, shepherds and dairy farmers. The George chapel was upgraded to the George church and received its own preacher.

=== {{lang|de|Königs Thor Platz|italic=no}} (1701–1805) ===
[[File:Berlin königsstadt.jpg|thumb|City map showing the {{lang|de|Königsvorstadt|italic=no}} (1789). The {{lang|de|[[Alt-Berlin|Alt Berlin]]|italic=no}} is shown in red, the royal suburbs northeast brown.]]
[[File:Alexanderplatz 1796.jpg|thumb|{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}, 1796 (in the middle the {{lang|de|Königsbrücke}} (King's Bridge) with its colonnades)]]

After his coronation in {{lang|de|[[Königsberg]]|italic=no}} on 6 May 1701 the [[Prussia]]n King [[Frederick I of Prussia|Frederick I]] entered Berlin through the George Gate. This led to the gate being renamed the [[King's Gate (Berlin)|King's Gate]], and the surrounding area became known in official documents as {{lang|de|Königs Thor Platz}} (King's Gate Square). The {{lang|de|Georgenvorstadt|italic=no}} suburb was renamed {{lang|de|Königsvorstadt}} (or 'royal suburbs' short).

In 1734, the [[Berlin Customs Wall]], which initially consisted of a ring of [[palisade]] fences, was reinforced and grew to encompass the old city and its suburbs, including {{lang|de|Königsvorstadt|italic=no}}. This resulted in the King's Gate losing importance as an entry point for goods into the city. The gate was finally demolished in 1746.

By the end of the 18th century, the basic structure of the royal suburbs of the {{lang|de|Königsvorstadt|italic=no}} had been developed. It consisted of irregular-shaped blocks of buildings running along the historic highways which once carried goods in various directions out of the gate. At this time, the area contained large factories (silk and wool), such as the {{lang|de|Kurprinz}} (one of Berlin's first cloth factories, located in a former barn) and a workhouse established in 1758 for beggars and homeless people, where the inmates worked a man-powered treadmill to turn a mill.<ref name=":0">Serie ''Aus der Geschichte des Alexanderplatzes'', T. 3: ''Tretmühle im Arbeitshaus''.</ref>

Soon, military facilities came to dominate the area, such as the 1799–1800 military parade grounds designed by [[David Gilly]]. At this time, the residents of the {{lang|de|Platz}} were mostly craftsmen, petty-bourgeois, retired soldiers and manufacturing workers.<ref name=":0" /> The southern part of the later {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} was separated from traffic by trees and served as a parade ground, whereas the northern half remained a market. Beginning in the mid-18th century, the most important wool market in Germany was held in {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}.

Between 1752 and 1755, the writer {{lang|de|[[Gotthold Ephraim Lessing]]|italic=no}} lived in a house on Alexanderplatz. In 1771, a new stone bridge (the {{lang|de|Königsbrücke}}) was built over the moat and in 1777 a colonnade-lined row of shops ({{lang|de|Königskolonnaden}}) was constructed by architect {{lang|de|[[Carl von Gontard]]|italic=no}}. Between 1783 and 1784, seven three-storey buildings were erected around the square by {{lang|de|[[Georg Christian Unger]]|italic=no}}, including the famous {{lang|de|Gasthof zum Hirschen}}, where {{lang|de|[[Karl Friedrich Schinkel]]|italic=no}} lived as a permanent tenant and {{lang|de|[[Heinrich von Kleist]]|italic=no}} stayed in the days before his [[suicide]].

=== {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} (1805–1900) ===
On 25 October 1805 the Russian [[Alexander I of Russia|Tsar Alexander I]] was welcomed to the city on the parade grounds in front of the old King's Gate. To mark this occasion, on 2 November, King [[Frederick William III of Prussia|Frederick William III]] ordered the square to be renamed {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz}}:<ref name=":2">''Aus der Geschichte des Alexanderplatzes'', T. 4: ''Taufe''</ref>
{{Blockquote|text=His Royal Majesty, by means of the supreme Cabinet, orders on the 2nd of this month, those in the {{lang|de|Königs-Vorstadt Sandgasse}} to take the name {{lang|de|Kaiserstrasse}}, and the square in front of the workhouse in the newly-conceived suburb settles with the name of {{lang|de|Alexander-Platz}}, this is hereby made known to the public for news and attention."|sign=Royal Prussian Police Directorate|source=}}In the southeast of the square, the cloth factory buildings were converted into the {{lang|de|Königstädter|italic=no}} Theater by {{lang|de|[[Carl Theodor Ottmer]]|italic=no}} at a cost of 120,000 [[Thaler|Taler]]. The foundation stone was laid on 31 August 1823 and the opening ceremony occurred on 4 August 1824. Sales were poor, forcing the theatre to close on 3 June 1851. Thereafter, the building was used for wool storage, then as a tenement building, and finally as an inn called {{lang|de|Aschinger}} until the building's demolition in 1932.

During these years, {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} was populated by [[fishwife|fish wives]], [[water carrier]]s, sand sellers, [[rag-and-bone man|rag-and-bone men]], [[knife sharpening|knife sharpeners]] and [[day labor]]ers.<ref name=":2" />

Because of its importance as a transport hub, horse-drawn buses ran every 15 minutes between {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|[[Potsdamer Platz]]|italic=no}} in 1847.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Peter Behrens, Berlin Alexanderplatz: Pläne, Zeichnungen und Photographien zum Wettewerb und der Bebauung, 1929–1932|last=Behrens|first=Peter|date=1993|publisher=[Die Pfalzgalerie]|others=Fiedler-Bender, Gisela; Höfchen, Heinz; Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern.|isbn=389422066X|location=[Kaiserslautern]|oclc=28807743}}</ref>

During the [[German revolutions of 1848–49|March Revolution]] of 1848, large-scale street fighting occurred on the streets of {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}, where revolutionaries used barricades to block the route from {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} to the city.
[[File:ErstesBilddesALEX.jpg|thumb|left|First ever picture of the Alexanderplatz, 1860<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adam-Tkalec |first=Maritta |date=2021-10-02 |title=Sensationsfund: Das älteste Foto vom Alexanderplatz |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/mensch-metropole/sensationsfund-das-aelteste-foto-vom-alexanderplatz-li.185162 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Berliner Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>]]
Novelist and poet {{lang|de|[[Theodor Fontane]]|italic=no}}, who worked in the vicinity in a nearby pharmacy, participated in the construction of barricades and later described how he used materials from the {{lang|de|Königstädter|italic=no}} Theater to barricade {{lang|de|Neue Königstraße|italic=no}}.<ref>Theodor Fontane: ''Von Zwanzig bis Dreißig''. Abschnitt ''Der achtzehnte März. Erstes Kapitel''.</ref>

The {{lang|de|Königsstadt|italic=no}} continued to grow throughout the 19th century, with three-storey developments already existing at the beginning of the century and fourth storeys being constructed from the middle of the century. By the end of the century, most of the buildings were already five storeys high. The large factories and military facilities gave way to housing developments (mainly rental housing for the factory workers who had just moved into the city) and trading houses.

At the beginning of the 1870s, the Berlin administration had the former moat filled to build the Berlin city railway, which was opened in 1882 along with {{lang|de|Bahnhof Alexanderplatz}} ('{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} Railway Station').

In 1883–1884, the Grand Hotel, a neo-Renaissance building with 185 rooms and shops beneath was constructed. From 1886 to 1890, {{lang|de|Hermann Blankenstein|italic=no}} built the police headquarters, a huge brick building whose tower on the northern corner dominated the building. In 1890, a district court at {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} was also established.

In 1886, the local authorities built a central market hall west of the rail tracks, which replaced the weekly market on the {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} in 1896. During the end of the 19th century, the emerging private traffic and the first [[horsebus|horse bus lines]] dominated the northern part of the square, the southern part (the former parade ground) remained quiet, having green space elements added by garden director {{lang|de|Hermann Mächtig|italic=no}} in 1889. The northwest of the square contained a second, smaller green space where, in 1895, the {{convert|7.5|m|adj=on}} copper [[Berolina]] statue by sculptor {{lang|de|Emil Hundrieser|italic=no}} was erected.

=== Between Empire and the Nazi era (1900–1940) ===
[[File:Berlin Alexanderplatz 1903.JPG|thumb|Alexanderplatz, 1903]]
[[File:Postcard Berlin Alexanderplatz aerial view (50268492586).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Alexanderplatz with ''Georgenkirche'', in the background you can see the ''Marienviertel'', the ''Heilige-Geist-Viertel'', the [[Berlin Palace]] and the [[Berlin Cathedral]], ca. 1930]]
At the beginning of the 20th century, {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} experienced its heyday. In 1901, {{lang|de|[[Ernst von Wolzogen]]|italic=no}} founded the first German cabaret, the {{lang|de|[[Überbrettl]]|italic=no}}, in the former {{lang|de|Sezessionsbühne}} ('Secession stage') at {{lang|de|Alexanderstraße 40|italic=no}}, initially under the name {{lang|de|Bunte Brettl|italic=no}}. It was announced as "{{lang|de|Kabarett}} as upscale entertainment with artistic ambitions. Emperor-loyal and market-oriented stands the uncritical amusement in the foreground."

The merchants {{lang|de|[[Hermann Tietz]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Georg Wertheim]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|Hahn|italic=no}} opened large department stores on {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}: {{lang|de|Tietz|italic=no}} (1904–1911), {{lang|de|Wertheim|italic=no}} (1910–1911) and {{lang|de|Hahn|italic=no}} (1911). {{lang|de|Tietz|italic=no}} marketed itself as a department store for the Berlin people, whereas {{lang|de|[[Wertheim (company)|Wertheim]]|italic=no}} modelled itself as a [[department store]] for the world.

In October 1905, the first section of the {{lang|de|Tietz|italic=no}} department store opened to the public. It was designed by architects [[Cremer and Wolffenstein|{{lang|de|Wilhelm Albert Cremer|italic=no|nocat=y}} and {{lang|de|Richard Wolffenstein|italic=no|nocat=y}}]], who had already won second prize in the competition for the construction of the {{lang|de|Reichstag|italic=no}} building. The {{lang|de|Tietz|italic=no}} department store underwent further construction phases and, in 1911, had a commercial space of {{convert|7300|m2}} and the longest department store façade in the world at {{convert|250|m}} in length.<ref name="1942- 2006">{{Cite book|title=Der Berliner Alexanderplatz|last=Jochheim|first=Gernot|date=2006|isbn=9783861533917|location=CH. Links Verlag (Sachbuch)|oclc=984942416}}</ref>

For the construction of the {{lang|de|Wertheim|italic=no}} department store, by architects {{ill|Heinrich Joseph Kayser|de}} and {{lang|de|[[Karl von Großheim]]|italic=no}}, the {{lang|de|Königskolonnaden}} were removed in 1910 and now stand in the {{lang|de|Heinrich von Kleist|italic=no}} Park in {{lang|de|Schöneberg|italic=no}}.

In October 1908, the {{lang|de|[[Haus des Lehrers]]}} ('the teacher's house') was opened next to the {{lang|de|Bunte Brettl|italic=no}} at {{lang|de|Alexanderstraße 41|italic=no}}. It was designed by {{lang|de|Hans Toebelmann|italic=no}} and Henry Gross. The building belonged to the {{lang|de|Berliner Lehrererverein}} ('teachers’ association'), who rented space on the ground floor of the building out to a pastry shop and restaurant to raise funds for the association. The building housed the teachers' library which survived two world wars, and today is integrated into the library for educational historical research.<ref name="1942- 2006"/> The rear of the property contained the association's administrative building, a hotel for members and an exhibition hall. Notable events that took place in the hall include the funeral services for {{lang|de|[[Karl Liebknecht]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|[[Rosa Luxemburg]]|italic=no}} on 2 February 1919 and, on 4 December 1920, the {{lang|de|Vereinigungsparteitag}} (Unification Party Congress) of the [[Communist party|Communist Party]] and the [[USPD]].

The First Ordinary Congress of the [[Communist Workers' Party of Germany]] was held in the nearby {{lang|de|Zum Prälaten}} restaurant, 1–4 August 1920.

{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}'s position as a main transport and traffic hub continued to fuel its development. In addition to the three {{lang|de|U-Bahn}} underground lines, long-distance trains and {{lang|de|S-Bahn|italic=no}} trains ran along the {{lang|de|Platz|italic=no}}'s viaduct arches. Omnibuses, horse-drawn from 1877 and, after 1898, also electric-powered trams,<ref>Hans-Joachim Pohl: Chronik des Straßenbahnverkehrs auf dem Alexanderplatz. In: Verkehrsgeschichtliche Blätter. Heft 1, 1999, S. 17–18<br /></ref> ran out of {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} in all directions in a star shape. The subway station was designed by [[Alfred Grenander]] and followed the colour-coded order of subway stations, which began with green at {{lang|de|Leipziger Platz|italic=no}} and ran through to dark red.

In the [[Golden Twenties]], {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} was the epitome of the lively, pulsating cosmopolitan city of Berlin, rivalled in the city only by {{lang|de|[[Potsdamer Platz]]|italic=no}}. Many of the buildings and rail bridges surrounding the platz bore large billboards that illuminated the night. The Berlin cigarette company Manoli had a famous billboard at the time which contained a ring of neon tubes that constantly circled a black ball. The proverbial "{{lang|de|Berliner Tempo}}" of those years was characterized as "{{lang|de|total manoli|italic=no}}". Writer {{lang|de|[[Kurt Tucholsky]]|italic=no}} wrote a poem referencing the advert, and the composer [[Rudolf Nelson]] made the legendary {{lang|de|Revue Total manoli|italic=no}} with the dancer [[Lucie Berber]]. The writer {{lang|de|[[Alfred Döblin]]|italic=no}} named his novel, {{lang|de|[[Berlin Alexanderplatz]]}}, after the square, and {{lang|de|[[Walter Ruttmann]]|italic=no}} filmed parts of his 1927 film {{lang|de|Berlin: Die Sinfonie der Großstadt}} (''Berlin: The Symphony of the Big City'') at {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}.

=== Destruction of {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} (1940–1945) ===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 204-022, Berlin, Bahnhof Alexanderplatz, Schäden.jpg|thumb|The destroyed {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} station, May 1945]]
One of Berlin's largest [[air raid shelter|air-raid shelters]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]] was situated under {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}. It was built between 1941 and 1943 for the {{lang|de|[[Deutsche Reichsbahn]]}} by {{lang|de|[[Philipp Holzmann]]|italic=no}}.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |url=http://berliner-unterwelten.de/alexbunker.331.0.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418085629/http://berliner-unterwelten.de/alexbunker.331.0.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-04-18 |publisher=Berliner Unterwelten |title=Tiefbunker unter dem Alexanderplatz |date=2015-04-18|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>

The war reached {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} in early April 1945. The [[Berolina]] statue had already been removed in 1944 and probably melted down for use in arms production. During the [[Battle of Berlin]], [[Red Army]] artillery bombarded the area around {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}. The battles of the last days of the war destroyed considerable parts of the historic {{lang|de|Königsstadt|italic=no}}, as well as many of the buildings around {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}.

The {{lang|de|[[Wehrmacht]]}} had entrenched itself within the tunnels of the underground system. Hours before fighting ended in Berlin on 2 May 1945, troops of the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]] detonated explosives inside the north–south {{lang|de|S-Bahn|italic=no}} tunnel under the [[Landwehr Canal|{{lang|de|Landwehr|nocat=y}} Canal]] to slow the advance of the Red Army towards Berlin's city centre. The entire tunnel [[flood]]ed, as well as large sections of the {{lang|de|U-Bahn|italic=no}} network via connecting passages at the {{lang|de|[[Friedrichstraße]]|italic=no}} underground station. Many of those seeking shelter in the tunnels were killed.<ref name=":3" /> Of the then {{convert|63.3|km|abbr=in}} of subway tunnel, around {{convert|19.8|km|abbr=on}} were flooded with more than one million cubic meters ({{convert|1|GL|USgal|disp=out}}) of water.

===Demolition and reconstruction (1945–1964)===
Before a planned reconstruction of the entire {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} could take place, all the war ruins needed to be demolished and cleared away. A popular black market emerged within the ruined area, which the police raided several times a day.

One structure demolished after World War II was the 'Rote Burg', a red brick building with round arches, previously used as police and Gestapo headquarters. The huge construction project began in 1886 and was completed in 1890; it was one of Berlin's largest buildings. The 'castle' suffered extensive damage during 1944-45 and was demolished in 1957. The site on the southwest corner of Alexanderplatz remained largely unused as a carpark until the Alexa shopping centre opened in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Town Hall |url=https://www.visitberlin.de/en/red-townhall-babylon-berlin |access-date=9 January 2023 |website=Visit Berlin}}</ref>

Reconstruction planning for post-war Berlin gave priority to the dedicated space to accommodate the rapidly growing motor traffic in inner-city thoroughfares. This idea of a traffic-oriented city was already based on considerations and plans by {{lang|de|[[Ludwig Hilberseimer]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|fr|[[Le Corbusier]]|italic=no}} from the 1930s.<ref name=":3" />

===East Germany===
[[File:Press Cafe in East Berlin on Alexanderplatz, 1977.jpg|thumb|right|The Pressecafé in 1977. The mural displaying the Marxist view of the press had been covered over by commercial advertising, but has since been re-revealed.]]
[[File:Berlin - Fernsehturm - 2012.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|The {{lang|de|Fernsehturm Berlin|italic=no}} seen from a distance]]

{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} has been subject to redevelopment several times in its history, most recently during the 1960s, when it was turned into a pedestrian zone and enlarged as part of the [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]]'s redevelopment of the city centre. It is surrounded by several notable structures including the {{lang|de|[[Fernsehturm Berlin|Fernsehturm]]}} ('TV Tower').

During the [[Peaceful Revolution]] of 1989, the [[Alexanderplatz demonstration|{{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no|nocat=y}} demonstration]] on 4 November 1989 was the largest demonstration in the history of the [[German Democratic Republic]]. [[Protest]]s starting 15 October and peaked on 4 November with an estimated 200,000 participants who called on the government of the ruling [[Socialist Unity Party of Germany]] to step down and demanded a free press, the opening of the borders and their right to travel. Speakers were {{lang|de|[[Christa Wolf]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Stefan Heym]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Friedrich Schorlemmer]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Heiner Müller]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Lothar Bisky]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Christoph Hein]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|[[Steffie Spira]]|italic=no}}. The protests continued and culminated in the unexpected [[Fall of the Berlin Wall]] on 9 November 1989.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kowalczuk |first=Ilko-Sascha |date=2009 |title=Endspiel, die Revolution von 1989 in der DDR |trans-title=Endgame, the 1989 Revolution in the GDR |url=https://www.chbeck.de/kowalczuk-sascha-endspiel/product/15144793 |language=de |location=Munich |publisher=C.H. Beck Verlag |isbn=9783406583575}}</ref> [[Image:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-1104-437, Berlin, Demonstration am 4. November.jpg |thumb|right| The 4 November 1989 [[Alexanderplatz demonstration]]]]

===After German reunification (1989)===

Ever since [[German reunification]], {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} has undergone a gradual process of change with many of the surrounding buildings being renovated. After the political turnaround in the wake of the fall of the Berlin Wall, [[urban planning in communist countries|socialist urban planning]] and architecture of the 1970s no longer corresponded to the current ideas of an inner-city square. Investors demanded planning security for their construction projects. After initial discussions with the public, the goal quickly arose to reinstate {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}'s tram network for better connections to surrounding city quarters. In 1993, an urban planning ideas competition for architects took place to redesign the square and its surrounding area.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In the first phase, there were 16 submissions, five of which were selected for the second phase of the competition. These five architects had to adapt their plans to detailed requirements. For example, the return of the Alex's trams was planned, with the implementation to be made in several stages.

The winner, who was determined on 17 September 1993, was the Berlin architect {{lang|de|[[Hans Kollhoff]]|italic=no}}. {{lang|de|Kollhoff|italic=no}}'s plan was based on Behrens’ design, provided a horseshoe-shaped area of seven- to eight-storey buildings and {{convert|150|m|adj=on}} high towers with 42 floors. The {{lang|de|Alexanderhaus|italic=no}} and the {{lang|de|Berolinahaus|italic=no}} – both listed buildings – would form the southwestern boundary. Second place went to the design by {{lang|de|[[Daniel Libeskind]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|Bernd Faskel|italic=no}}. The proposal of the architecture firm Kny & Weber, which was strongly based on the horseshoe shape of Wagner, finally won the third place. The design by {{lang|de|Kollhoff|italic=no}} was chosen on 7 June 1994 by the [[Berlin Senate]] as a basis for the further transformation of {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}.

In 1993, architect {{lang|de|[[Hans Kollhoff]]|italic=no}}'s master plan for a major redevelopment including the construction of several skyscrapers was published.<ref name="bloomberg1">Dalia Fahmy (27 May 2014), [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-26/25-years-after-communism-eyesores-spur-landmark-debate.html "25 Years After Communism, Eyesores Spur Landmark Debate"] ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.</ref>

In 1995, {{lang|de|Landesbank Berlin|italic=no}} completed the renovation of the {{lang|de|Alexanderhaus|italic=no}}. In 1998, the first tram returned to {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}, and in 1999, the town planning contracts for the implementation of {{lang|de|Kollhoff|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|Timmermann|italic=no}}'s plans were signed by the landowners and the investors.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===21st century===
[[File:Alexanderplatz from the tube, Berlin D.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Alexanderplatz from the [[S-Bahn]]|left]]
[[File:Berlin - U-Bahnhof Alexanderplatz - Bahnsteig der U5 (6904234629).jpg|thumb|[[U-Bahn]] station at the alexanderplatz]]

On 2 April 2000, the Senate finally fixed the development plan for {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}}. The purchase contracts between investors and the Senate Department for Urban Development were signed on 23 May 2002, thus laying the foundations for the development.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}
[[File:Visit-suomi-2009-05-by-RalfR-015.jpg|thumb|Aerial view with the TV tower]]
The CUBIX [[multiplex (movie theater)|multiplex]] cinema ([[CineStar]] Cubix am Alexanderplatz,<ref>{{cite web | title=CineStar Cubix am Alexanderplatz - Kinobeschreibung und Termine - Kinoprogramm für Berlin und Umland | website=Berlin.de | url=https://www.berlin.de/kino/_bin/kinodetail.php/32139 | language=de | access-date=18 September 2022}}</ref> styled CUBIX<ref>{{cite web | title=CineStar CUBIX am Alexanderplatz, Berlin | website=cityseeker | url=https://cityseeker.com/berlin/338506-cinestar-cubix-am-alexanderplatz | access-date=18 September 2022}}</ref>), which opened in November 2000, joined the team of [[Berlin International Film Festival]] cinemas in 2007, and the festival shows films on three of its screens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/spielst_tten/kinos/index.html |title=Berlinale venues |publisher=[[Berlin International Film Festival]] |access-date=17 August 2018 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202173453/https://www.berlinale.de/en/programm/spielst_tten/kinos/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Renovation of the {{lang|de|Centrum|italic=no}} department store began in 2004, led by Berlin professor of architecture, {{lang|de|[[Josef Paul Kleihues]]|italic=no}} and his son {{lang|de|Jan Kleihues|italic=no}}. The building was enlarged by about {{convert|25|m}} and has since operated under the name {{lang|de|Galeria Kaufhof}}.

Beginning with the reconstruction of the {{lang|de|[[Metro AG|Kaufhof]]}} department store in 2004, and the biggest underground railway station of Berlin, some buildings were redesigned and new structures built on the square's south-eastern side. Sidewalks were expanded to shrink one of the avenues, a new underground garage was built, and commuter tunnels meant to keep pedestrians off the streets were removed.<ref name="bloomberg1"/> Between 2005 and 2006, {{lang|de|Berolinahaus|italic=no}} was renovated and later became a branch of the clothing chain, [[C&A]].{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In 2005, the {{lang|de|[[Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe]]}} began work to extend the tram line from {{lang|de|Prenzlauer Allee|italic=no}} to {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} (Alex II). This route was originally to be opened in 2000 but was postponed several times. After further delays caused by the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the route opened on 30 May 2007.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

In February 2006, the redesign of the walk-in plaza began. The redevelopment plans were provided by the architecture firm [[Gerkan, Marg and Partners]] and the Hamburg-based company {{lang|de|WES-Landschaftsarchitekten|italic=no}}. The final plans emerged from a design competition launched by the state of Berlin in 2004. However, the paving work was temporarily interrupted a few months after the start of construction by the 2006 FIFA World Cup and all excavation pits had to be provisionally asphalted over. The construction work could only be completed at the end of 2007.

The renovation of {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz U-Bahnhof}}, the largest Berlin underground station, had been ongoing since the mid-1990s and was finally completed in October 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |work=[[Berliner Morgenpost]] |date=2008-10-18 |title=U-Bahnhof Alexanderplatz ist endlich fertig |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article102977613/U-Bahnhof-Alexanderplatz-ist-endlich-fertig.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |language=de-DE}}</ref>

The {{lang|de|Platz}} was given a pavement of yellow granite, bordered by grey mosaic paving around the buildings. Wall AG modernized the 1920s-era underground toilets at a cost of 750,000 euros. The total redesign cost amounted to around 8.7 million euros.{{when|date=September 2022}}{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

On 12 September 2007 the Alexa shopping centre opened. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the {{lang|de|Platz}}, on the site of the old Berlin police headquarters. With a {{convert|56200 |m2|adj=on|abbr=on}} sales area, it is one of the largest shopping centres in Berlin.

In May 2007, the Texas property development company [[Hines Interests Limited Partnership|Hines]] began building a six-story commercial building named {{lang|de|die mitte}}.<ref name="dw.com 2007 c943">{{cite web | title=Berlin's Alexanderplatz – DW – 06/17/2007 | website=dw.com | date=June 17, 2007 | url=https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-famous-alexanderplatz-reinvents-itself/a-2606585 | access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref> The building was built on a plot of {{convert|3900|m2|abbr=on}}, which, according to the {{lang|de|Kollhoff|italic=no}} plans, closes the square to the east and thus reduces the area of the Platz. The building was opened on 25 March 2009.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

At the beginning of 2007, the construction company {{lang|de|Wöhr + Bauer|italic=no}} created an underground garage with three levels below the {{lang|de|Alexanderstraße|italic=no}}, located between the hotel tower and the {{lang|de|Elektroindustrie|italic=no}} building, which cost 25 million euros to build and provides space for around 700 cars.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Flatau |first=Sabine |date=2009-08-14 |title=Ein See in der Baustelle am Alexanderplatz |url=https://www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/berlin/article104361297/Ein-See-in-der-Baustelle-am-Alexanderplatz.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |work=[[Berliner Morgenpost]] |language=de-DE }}</ref> The opening took place on 26 November 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Am Alexanderplatz wurde drei Jahre lang ein unterirdisches Parkhaus gebaut, es eröffnet Ende November. Doch viele Straßen und Gehwege sind noch nicht fertig: Schmale Straße und tiefe Garage |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/am-alexanderplatz-wurde-drei-jahre-lang-ein-unterirdisches-parkhaus-gebaut-es-eroeffnet-ende-november-doch-viele-strassen-und-gehwege-sind-noch-nicht-fertig-schmale-strasse-und-tiefe-garage-li.6331 |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=[[Berliner Zeitung]] |language=de-DE }}</ref> At the same time, the Senate narrowed {{lang|de|Alexanderstraße|italic=no}} from almost {{cvt|100|m}} wide to {{cvt|58|m}} wide ({{convert|100|to|58|m|disp=out}}), thus reducing it to three lanes in each direction.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Behind the {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} station, next to the CUBIX cinema in the immediate vicinity of the TV tower, the {{convert|30|m|ft|adj=on}} high residential and commercial building, Alea 101, was built between 2012 and 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-09-16 |title=Redevco opent ALEA 101-gebouw Berlijn: € 90 mio op top-retail locatie – SCN shopping, leisure, people & places |url=https://www.scn.today/redevco-opent-alea-101-gebouw-berlijn-e-90-mio-op-top-retail-locatie/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |language=nl-NL}}</ref>

{{As of|2014|post=,}} it was assessed that due to a lack of demand the skyscrapers planned in 1993 were unlikely to be constructed.<ref name="bloomberg1"/>

In January 2014, a 39-story residential tower designed by [[Frank Gehry]] was announced, but this project was put on hold in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2018/05/03/frank-gehry-berlin-skyscraper-hines-hochhaus-on-hold/ |title=Frank Gehry's plans for Berlin's tallest skyscraper put on hold |first=India |last=Block |work=[[Dezeen]] |date=2018-05-03}}</ref>
The {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} area is the largest area for crime in Berlin. As of October 2017, {{lang|de|Alexanderplatz|italic=no}} was classified a {{lang|de|kriminalitätsbelasteter Ort}} ("crime-contaminated location") by the {{lang|de|Berlin Allgemeinen Sicherheits- und Ordnungsgesetz}} (General Safety and Planning Laws).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-18 |title=Kriminalitätsbelastete Orte in Berlin |url=https://www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/fakten-hintergruende/artikel.597950.php |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=www.berlin.de |language=de |archive-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408073426/https://www.berlin.de/polizei/polizeimeldungen/fakten-hintergruende/artikel.597950.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>