Page 21 - C.A.L.L. #39 - Spring 2015

ufaFabrik – Berlin

by Michael Livni
23/01/15

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Physically, ufaFabrik is a compound covering 18,566 m in the Southern center of Berlin.
It was originally developed as the Universal Film Studios, the German Hollywood, in

1923. It served the German Film industry until 1964. Pioneering films such as
Metropolis (Fritz Lang) and the Blue Angel (Marlene Dietrich) were filmed there. The
period of Nazi rule constituted the dark period in its history – this is where Nazi
propaganda and hate films were produced. In the Seventies the whole compound fell
into disrepair. In 1979, the Berlin Senate planned to tear down the compound and

utilize the area for other purposes.

Enter a group of young communards many of whom were active in the performing arts,
who had established a collective promoting cohousing, culture, sport and handicrafts in
1972. However, their facilities were inadequate for their collective dream. They

wanted a site which would enable them to live together and work together. They
wanted their way of life and activity to carry a message to the surrounding area. In
1979 they discovered the former film factory grounds and recognized the potential of
the area. However, the compound also constituted a “heritage” site. This was the
trigger for a peaceful protest move-in by the collective. The Berlin Senate recognized

their action and some months later came to an agreement regarding the
recommissioning of the site and its development as a cultural-social-ecological-
educational center by the collective. “A new culture in an old factory.” A collective of

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