Routledge Imaginary Athens: Urban Space and Memory in Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul

Explore the complex connections between architecture and urban identity in this Routledge publication. Imaginary Athens examines how Berlin, Tokyo, and Seoul transformed into national capitals through a transnational process shaped by the memory of classical Athens. This book investigates how architectural styles and urban planning reflect civic perception. It traces the influence of Schinkel's classicist architecture and the principle of tectonics from Berlin to East Asia. The text follows how these ideas merged with notions of national polity as cities like Tokyo underwent reinvention during periods of modernization. Readers will gain a deep understanding of how embellished memories of the past shape the physical landscapes of modern metropolitan centers. This study provides a unique look at the way urban spaces serve as reflections of civilization and national identity across different cultures and eras.