Fasanenstrasse in Berlin
Fasanenstrasse crosses the Kurfürstendamm, which was originally named "Churfürstendamm" in 1729, when it was no more than a wide bridle path. It was upgraded when the unified German Reich was founded in 1871. This was also the period when the side streets were planned and developed and the villas were built.
Fasanenstrasse (Pheasant Street) owes its name to the royal pheasant run, which was built by Frederick the Great in 1775 .It was late moved to Potsdam in 1841. Fasanenstrasse, and
especially the section between Kurfürstendamm and Lietzenburger Strasse miraculously survived the Second World War relatively intact.There were not part of the post war programme of demolishing or rebuilding either.Indeed, it was above all thanks to the resolute involvement of citizens of Berlin, that the magnificent upper class apartment buildings on the one side and the townhouse villas on the other were not sacrificed for megalomanic city motorway and tunnel projects.
And thus the buildings at Fasanenstrasse numbers 23, 24 and 25 in particular - the steep and proudly towering Grisebach Villa of the wealthy builder and architect Hans Grisebach and the adjoining classical ensemble of conservatories - are a reminder of the commitment made by Berlin's state curator in 1984, that the "properties for sale are only to be used in a way that is appropriate to the character of Fasanenstrasse. The rooms may only be let to art and antiques dealers, museums, galleries, art exhibitions, and new and second-hand book shops." A wonderful and far-sighted commitment, which now, twenty years later, has finally been met. Up to Fasanenplatz, Fasanenstrasse is indeed an arts and culture quarter.