The LP12 Mall of Berlin, also known as Leipziger Platz Quartier or simply Mall of Berlin, is a shopping mall in the Mitte borough of Berlin, Germany. It forms the northeastern part of the octagon at Leipziger Platz.

History

The site of the mall was originally home to the Wertheim department store, which was the largest department store in Europe until it was destroyed in World War II. Since the location was very close to the sector boundary defined by the Potsdam Agreement, the entire Leipziger Platz remained undeveloped for the following four decades. IN 2005, the ruins of the former Wertheim store were demolished, making way for redevelopment.

Construction on the mall began in February 2011. In the spring of 2012, soil on the construction site collapsed near the tunnel of the U2 subway line below. Subway traffic was interrupted for several months for safety reasons. After the foundation stone was laid on August 17, 2012, the topping-out ceremony was celebrated on August 15, 2013.

In 2022 seven United Buddy Bears were installed on the ground level. The bears stand for the motto "Hand in Hand for Tolerance / WE ARE BERLIN", meant to symbolize the diversity of Berlin; the bears wear sashes with the words “Respect,” “Diversity,” and “Tolerance.”

Gallery

• 
  Mall of Berlin interior arcade, 2012
• 
  Topping out ceremony on August 15, 2013
• 
  One of several brass plaques in front of the escalators with quotes from prominent people (here from Barack Obama)
• 
  The seven Buddy Bears

See also

• List of shopping malls in Germany