Schiffbauergasse
Along the banks of the Tiefer See Lake, opposite Babelsberg Park, a very special project is under development at the Schiffbauergasse (Ship Builders Lane) - an integrated cultural and business site. The famous landmark is the new building for the Hans Otto Theater, which was designed by one of the most important German architects of the post-WWII era: Gottfried Böhm (born in 1920, and the first German awarded the Pritzker Prize in 1986).
An exceptionally lively and open cultural scene developed among the empty buildings here after 1991. Concerts, exhibits, parties, theater and dance, Waschhaus, T-Werk, and fabrik attract night owls and a young culturally-engaged audience from the whole region.
The European distribution center of the Oracle software company is also located at this site, as well as one of the three world-wide design centers of the VW Trust.
Following a Slavic colony, agricultural use, and fishery, a chicory mill began producing Ersatz coffee ("mocca faux") here in 1800. The building is under historic preservation status, and adjoins the new theater. It will be used as a restaurant in the future.
The name "Schiffbauergasse" refers to the shipyard of the Englishman John Barnett Humphrey, who built the first Prussian steamboats here after 1817. An old barge converted into a restaurant ship, lies in dock and reminds visitors of the former ship works.
Riding and stable facilities were built here in 1822 following a plan drawn up by Schinkel. In 1838-1842, the adjacent building of the Garde Husaren (Hussar Guards) garrison was erected. In 1912, a military laundry facility (the present day "Waschhaus"), an officers' mess hall, and additional riding halls were added. In 1856 the first Potsdam gasworks were built here, and a coke separation plant was added in 1953-55 on the site of today's Oracle headquarters.
Later, the military facilities were used by the NVA (GDR People's Army) and Soviet armed forces, and until 1994, by the KGB (Soviet secret service).
The entire site and the buildings will be restored and converted for cultural use, and the establishment of businesses, restaurants, and tourist facilities. This ensemble of an attractive park along the banks of the Havel river, the outstanding architecture, a landing stage, and sidewalks and cycling paths, make the Schiffbauergasse a modern urban attraction for the city.
Tip: A pathway leads across the Humboldt-Brücke bridge to Babelsberg park. Designed by Lenné and Pückler, it is the largest and newest park in Potsdam.
Bornstedt Crown Estate
Ribbeckstraße
Bornstedt was once a village north-east of Potsdam. According to the land register of Emperor Karl IV, in the year 1375 there were three farms here that were later combined into one manor, which was bought by the Elector Frederick William in 1664. In 1724, the estate was placed under the charge of the board of directors of the Great Military Orphanage. In 1846, the entire old crown estate burned down, except for a part of the mansion, and by 1848 it was re-constructed in the Italian villa-style. In 1867, Crown Prince Frederick William (1831-1888) and his English wife Victoria (1840-1901) took over the property and operated it as a model estate. Diary production and chicken-farming were the main activities.
The garden architect Emil Sello (1816-1893) re-designed the garden after an English model in 1875. In 1888, the crown prince became German Emperor Frederick III, and died later that same year. Empress Victoria left the estate in 1889. After various usages, the restoration of the estate began in 1999, being converted into a tourist attraction with shop facilities, restaurants, and various events.
Weddings can still be celebrated in the Bornstedt Crown Estate today.
The Bornstedt Church, with its churchyard, is located diagonally opposite the crown estate. "Who dies in Sanssouci, shall be buried in Bornstedt," said Fontane about the popular burial place of Prussian court employees. For example, the graves of Peter Joseph Lenné and Ludwig Persius can be seen in the churchyard.
The church is already the third one on this site. It was constructed in the Italian manner in 1855-56 based on several drafts by the architect Stüler and by a royal command. Inside, directly on the left-hand side, the epitaph of the tragic scholar Jakob Paul Freiherr von Gundling can be seen.
Tip: From the crown estate, you need only head south for a few minutes to reach the Orangery in Sanssouci park.
