The old town that is two years old - New Frankfurt Old Town 

I think it's always an argument that is used against reconstructionists, that it would be like pretending something didn't happen . In my view it's a very stupid argument though because what is the USE of architecture, other than asthethics? There should be more reconstruction not less. Thanks for your comment.

@@karlheven8328 To clarify what I mean; I don't think reconstructing old architecture is pretending that ww2 didn't happen. However I do think it is pretending something and I believe that architecture is about more than just visual appearance. One wouldn't, for example, create an exact replica on the Rome's colosseum in the middle of a modern city. Similarly it would be strange to produce a modern village of houses designed to look medieval. I think there's a form of deception in doing something like that. In this video I think a lovely balance is found. Of course I accept other people have different opinions. These old buildings do look very nice after all.

@@williamtoner8674 Architure is mostly about appearence though. The rest is just the function of it's utility, but that is always a given. And to be honest if ever god forbid anything happens to the great Colloseum it would be a crime against humanity not to rebuild it at least close to its original form. So I think there are situations where the architecture quality is so great that it should not be watered down because it is already too magnificent. But I agree with you that one has to sometimes balance different aspects to make certain architecture FIT IN better into the landscape and other houses around.

@@karlheven8328 to be honest, you could still rebuild here without reconstructing the old town. it'd be no sweat off anyones back to plan a new city quarter in modern architectural style, which is also beautiful if in a different way, and build that, and it'd probably be more useful. their arguments absolutely have a point. that said, i personally love traditional architecture and go nuts for good reconstructions. i love what theyre doing in berlin around museum island, in potsdam with the old market, dresden, etc. it just feels like making things right. and in many cases, there is practical use for it. reconstructing the city palace in berlin restored the architectural unity of museum island and the end of Unter den Linden. restoring the old market in potsdam gave them back their historical center. ive been to it yesterday and it literally took my breath away. dresden used to be called florence on the elbe, and if you now look at the river basin, you can once again tell why. im not entirely decided on it myself, i can see both sides, but its also not really erasing the past. new houses that are reconstructions of old ones are still very much and very visibly new. they are clearly identifiable, its not gonna fool anyone. and we today arent the people who committed the atrocities of the second world war. its our job to remember and make sure it never repeats itself, but does that mean that we cant rebuild? it comes down to how relevant we still perceive the events of ww2 to be at the end of the day. it was a break in civilization that is pretty much unrivaled in its horror. when you try to grasp that in any capacity, the only option you really have is to tear down everything thats left, wipe the slate clean, and begin completely from scratch. and ive held that opinion for a time, its just not possible to put into words. but what ive said before is also still true. and old architecture kicks butt. and doesnt our pre-war history deserve to get remembered too? because architecture is a visible record of history, its not just pretty. and probably a lot mroe accessible than historical texts.

Now i am crying as a berliner....so grateful that you say this....all this pain...and kulturel gesehen, I hre kuche. Looks like mine....same drawers thinking, draperies. The same!....yes the distruction was beyond words your history also...usa, cannot understand....founded german british....all t hede fights...great cities bombarded to the ground.....but skunkville idaho. Survived...its ok....peace please

The trouble with most modern buildings is they are incredibly ugly

"Disneyworld" is just a strawman used against reconstruction.

this ! these new bulidings if they stay of course will be old too in hundreds of years...

Lets not kid ourselves the only “strategy” that came from bombing old towns was erasing german heritage. It wasnt much different than what germany did to poland or the netherlands. The british and americans just took it to the extreme. Its quite sad as germany had the most beautiful cities in europe before the war

@@amygould4242 it makes me cry when I see cities like Dresden, Leipzig, Berlin, koln, have a look at old videos of these cities it's mind blowing architecture the top of the art and civilisation, very very sad

That's funny, "bomber harris" was over Dresden not Frankfurt.

@@kentrosaurusboi3909 Harris was in command of all RAF bomber forces since 1942. He also bombed Frankfurt.

And Germany will pay for British, Belgian, French, Polish, Norwegian, Czech, ... reconstruction.

I think it's safe to say that this isn't a very well thought through suggestion.

The sources I used stated that 40 to 45 percent of the old town were destroyed in an air raid in march 1945. Wikipedia gives similar figures. What is special about Rothenburg o.d.T. is that the city government decided to reconstruct the buildings that had been destroyed, rather than building new modern buildings.

@@tcjacobi9275 Agreed. I've seen the arial shots of R odT after the war and about 50% of it was destroyed. Fortunately, not the oldest bit. But you wouldn't know it today unless you REALLY knew where to look. Frankfurts Old Town was one of the greatest German city losses of the war. They should rebuild the Salzhaus for a start, that would be a nice little project. Hopefully though, this all gathers momentum and at least gets the street grid back. It'll never feel authentic (go to Regensburg for that, the biggest largely unbombed city), but the more reconstructions the better.

Better Disneyland than soulless, dehumanizing brutalism

@@robertusthemac Totally agree. They should do more reconstructions.