Abstract

Vogelsang is an abandoned Soviet military base 60 kilometres north of Berlin that once housed nuclear weapons. Today its buildings slowly decay hidden in the forest. Some are structurally dangerous, others have disappeared, but many remain. Cafes, schools, power plants, a cinema, washrooms, sports halls, refectories, apartments with original wallpapers, are open to explore. Colourful murals acclaim the Soviet army. Lenin still stands. It is a powerfully atmospheric place, full of ghosts. Mysterious maps and technical inventories can be found. Owls, cranes, deer and woodpeckers make homes there. Despite its obscurity specific people regularly visit. Birdwatchers, graffitists, photographers, substance abusers and GPS games players all leave their marks. There is constant evolution. Vogelsang is celebrated as a place for serious reflection through creative exploration. It proposes that such sites be valued as imaginative resources as well as for their history.

For the Paragrana publication the ideas are presented in the form of a conversation with Holger Schulze.

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