Olivaer Platz: A non-place” and the stories of loneliness

Olivaer Platz: A non-place” and the stories of loneliness

Olivaer Platz, surrounded by the pulsating Kurfürstendamm, embodies an urban space that is increasingly overshadowed by modernization and globalization. Such a space is described as a “non-place,” a term coined by French anthropologist Marc Augé. According to the Berlin newspaper This place was once an artistic sunken garden. Today, a flat green area with asphalt paths and concrete seating blocks dominates the picture.

Augé explains that “non-places” are impersonal and functional places of transit, places that do not create a social identity or a shared past. This is reflected in Olivaer Platz. People hurry past there - a man in a pinstripe suit on the way to the bakery, a young woman with a Chihuahua on a leash, and a homeless man whose steps are accompanied by filled plastic bags.

The characteristics of “non-places”

The rise of “non-places” is a central thesis in Augé’s book “Non-Places,” which offers an analysis of modern rural and urban landscapes. Examples such as airports, subway stations and supermarkets that Augé cites show how our environment is increasingly characterized by places that do not create emotional connections and thus promote loneliness and sameness.

The loneliness that Augé describes can be transferred to everyday life at Olivaer Platz. The community spirit that is typically present in “anthropological places” is missing here. Instead, the square is a space for encounters, which, however, remains empty in any relationship to the people who pass through it.

The influence of Augé and the agenda of science

Marc Augé was born in 1935 and is considered a leading figure in the ethnology of modern space. He taught at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales in Paris. His work, which was published in the Beck Paperback series on August 7, 2019, is not only a look at the structure of our cities, but also a profound analysis of identity and the will to create in times of global challenges. The original title "Non-Lieux. Introduction to an anthropologie de la surmodernité" is based on Augé's dissertation on urban phenomena and the social implications of these "non-places". The ISBN numbers 978-3-406-67036-7 and 3-406-67036-9 illustrate the comprehensibility of the scientific work, which deals with the topics of loneliness, places of remembrance and cultural identity.

Considering the disconnection experienced in Olivaer Platz, it becomes clear how important it is to recognize such spaces and take into account their impact on social interaction. Augé's theories provide a framework to reflect on our own relationship with these urban “non-places” that are part of our reality every day.