Berlin
Illusions of grandeur? Marzahn's swankiest apartments
With their wrought iron balconies, statue-flanked doorways and elegant stucco, these swish apartments are a match for Berlin's most desirable homes - a fact that's particularly striking given their location in the heart of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, a suburb far better known for its endless, GDR-era concrete tower blocks.
But take another look, and you'll realise it's all quite literally a facade - a spectacular mural which, at 64,000 square metres in size, also happens to be Europe's largest artwork.
The project was completed in 2008, an attempt by developers to prove that even Berlin's dreariest housing could be transformed - with a lick or two of carefully applied paint - into des-res accommodation.
And as the before and after images below clearly show, the massive trompe l'oeil make-over was certainly effective.
Image credit: www.creative-stadt.de
If, however, you'd rather experience the real Marzahn, the surrounding estates (below) provide a startlingly extensive example of late 20th century socialist architecture and planning.
Image credit: http://oldskoolman.de
Not, perhaps, a district that will ever rank among Berlin's most popular tourist destinations, but one which (quite apart from its historical importance as a GDR-era urban enclave) harbours a surprising number of unexpected highlights. Including, of course, a make-believe neoclassical boulevard on the edge of a busy highway.
See also:
A country village in Marzahn
Berlin's first socialist tower block
GDR shopping
Europe's largest mural on the 'Europa Viertel' painted apartment blocks: Stendaler Straße / corner Quedlinburger Straße 12627 Berlin
