Greetings to Mitte – the very center of Berlin street art tour! This lively area shall therefore be associated with a history, architecture designs or rather features and not to forget the characteristic Bricks. The current blog post will discuss some of the features that make the bricks in the Mitte stand out and the role they played towards the development of this region.
The Origins of Mitte’s Bricks
The bricks also have history that dates back to 19th century, which is in Mitte area of Berlin. At this time, the city of Berlin could be said to have been rapidly growing in terms of the urbanization and industrialization processes. Many structures were made, and utilisation of bricks was impressive. Because of this they got a very close and easy accessibility to sources of clay needed in the production of bricks.
Some of these competitors include the Rüdersdorf brickworks and the Zehlendorf brickworks through which bricks for construction of new buildings in Mitte where obtained. These were real handmade bricks that were further exposed to fire-heated kilns, which they possessed and, therefore, unique charming and durability. To this date, there are still parts of the original bricks tucked in the several historical buildings located in Mitte.
The Characteristics of Mitte’s Bricks
The bricks are also well distinguished based on the following general properties of Mitte bricks. That is why we can distinguish the following features in the Orcs:
Colour: Another property of Mitte’s brick is its reddish-brown hue. This hue originates from the iron content of the clay that kind of combusts with oxygen when it undergoes firing.
Surface: The bricks in Mitte are not smoothed and that is one of the reasons why Mitte is cute. Nevertheless, minor defects and unevenness are also observed in most of the bricks, which are created by hand; thus, they are distinctive.
This site also had a longevity concept in that those bricks that were crafted were supposed to last for centuries. Due to the excellent architecture and quality of the materials used, up to this date, several of the buildings in Mitte feature their original bricks.
Preserving Mitte’s Bricks
Conservation plans in Mitte seek to retain the character of the area and look of the buildings which have been developed over time. This includes an accurate salvation and preservation of the old red brick buildings.
In the event of a) need to change a specific brick then the attempts are made to get a similar one as the previous one. It also guarantees that the new bricks can fit the structure well and complement the rest of the buildings in the neighbourhood.
Tips for Identifying Original Bricks
In case you wish to identify original bricks in Mitte, there are several things that can guide you:
- Seem for small changes and fluctuations in colour of the bricks.
- Observe the texture closely. Such molecules may have fingerprints or small imperfections which are characteristic to homemade baked clay products like handmade bricks.
- Look at the specimen as to the size and shape of bricks. Modern standardized bricks can also be different from the original ones as to their material and form.
- Please do not forget that the only perfect way to be able to observe the bricks in Mitte is to wander around this area. Have a walk around the area and you will be immediately drawn to the beautiful stained brick structures that characterize this locality.
The Influence of Bricks on Mitte’s Architecture
The construction of brick structures have bearing on the archetypal facade of Mitte including it’s neighborhood. These structures are also a reflection of the different architectures such as Gothic, renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical among others.
Bricks enabled architects to elaborate the façades and to produce beautiful ornamentations of doors and windows. Closed structures have very elaborate artwork like various arches, cornices, and friezes hence can be described as art masterpieces.
Appreciating the Bricks of Mitte
Therefore, anyone who strolls through Mitte should not only be excited about the prospect but also be impressed by the heritage preserved by each brick. Focus on the aspect of architecture, the hues and tones, as well as the texture. It seemed that these bricks were a part of generations, wars, and reunification of this city, which is known as Berlin.
Whether one is an architect, a historian, or a tourist thus exploring the bricks of Mitte will be very rewarding due to the kind of experiences one is bound to get in this fascinating area.
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