At the end of the last century the enormous political changes in Eastern Europe led to the disappearance of the Iron Curtain. In 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. As early as one year later the decision for re-unification of west and east Germany was a fact. After fierce discussions in the parliament the decision to move the political centre back to Berlin, after an interim period of more than 30 years in Bonn, initiated a massive building boom and a minor mass migration. This 'new' Berlin was quickly becoming a prestige icon for the 'new and modern' Germany.