Between 1831 and the second world war the Potsdamer Platz used to be the most lively area in town. War damage and later, the division of the city transformed the square into no man´s land. Most buildings which had not already been destroyed, were torn down, the Wall ran right through the square and the square fell into oblivion.

In 1993 it became one of the largest inner-city building sites in Europe, a fascinating spectacle of modern technology and innovation. The square has been brought back to life thanks to billions of DM invested in enormous building projects.

DaimlerChrysler and their subsidiary company Debis have built 19 buildings within the largest development project on a floor space of 68.000 m². They were inaugurated in October 1998. The project comprises 50% office space, the rest being distributed between apartments, restaurants, shops, cinemas, a hotel and a theatre.

The narrow streets - an unusual feature in Berlin - lead to be the meeting point of the complex: the Marlene Dietrich Platz. The glass mall shopping center called Potsdamer Platz Arkaden is ideal for eager shoppers. The last standing house of the bygone Potsdamer Platz, Weinhaus Huth, has survived even this upheaval.

Sony is the second largest investor with seven buildings on a triangular floor space of 26.500 m², arranged around a covered piazza. Offices, restaurants, shops, the Filmhaus, the Deutsche Mediathek, the Marlene Dietrich Museum, apartments and a 3D-cinema have been built. Parts of the former sumptuous Hotel Esplanade can be seen behind protecting glass panels. The Hall of the Kaiser (Kaisersall), a listed monument, was spectacularly moved 75m from its original emplacement to the Esplanade-Residence: this cost 50 million DM.