I live in Berlin and don't find anything wrong with Plattenbau (Soviet-style blocks). It can be done cheap or good, but even cheap is durable in this case. Many

I live in Berlin and don't find anything wrong with Plattenbau (Soviet-style blocks). It can be done cheap or good, but even cheap is durable in this case. Many buildings are only now being refurbished, many decades after construction. What I like about former East Berlin is the walkability. Wide open pedestrian walkways, focus on public transport and plazas for people to gather. Contrast that to wide open roads, focus on the private automobile and malls elsewhere.