No two people, let alone architects, perceive even the most frequented cities in the same way. How do designers experience their cities as locals? Plus, with summertime in full swing, planning a vacation is on everyone's mind. Archinect got in touch with J. MAYER H. founder Jürgen Mayer H., who shared his own list of places to see and places to eat at in Berlin, specially curated for the architecturally inclined traveler.

Nearly 26 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, travelers now have easier access to sites all around the once "Divided City", including several of the places that Jürgen Mayer H. suggested below. Give his tips a try to discover something new or revisit familiar favorites.

Teufelsberg:

This former spy station is a perfect bike ride escape from the city. The towers are ruins which you can climb and have a picknick with a spectacular view.

Bierpinsel:

Some extravagant monuments of the 70s have a questionable future and the Bierpinsel is one of them.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche:

Once named the most beautiful ruin in the world, the Memorial Church ensemble is an elegant mix of different histories. The tower of the old church is completed with a few object-like buildings in dark blue glass bricks by Egon Eiermann.

Treptower Park Denkmal:

This park hosts a prominent Soviet War Memorial. Relaxation in combination with a close-up to recent history makes this a special stroll.

Kulturforum:  

You will find Mies van der Rohe and Hans Scharoun in a still not finished conversation about what Berlin as a city should be. The Philharmony, the New National Gallery and the Staatsbibliothek frame an undefined territory in the center of Berlin and this will be a site for debates over next couple of years.

Schaubühne:

Erich Mendelsohn built an entire ensemble of housing, shopping, sports and leisure facilities. The centerpiece was the first Modernist cinema in the world. It now houses one the best theatres in Germany.

Dutch Embassy Berlin:

If you have some time, then try to get a tour inside the Dutch Embassy by OMA. The promenade cuts through the buildings different departments and offers surprising views onto it's city context.

Jewish Museum:

The Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind is definitely flashing – a zigzag cutting through fragmented city fabric. The outside is a must see, the inside is a ongoing battle between architecture and exhibition design.

Tempelhofer Feld:

A barbeque afternoon next to a runway or skating on the taxi lane? Here you go! The former Tempelhof airport is now a free zone for outdoor activities.

FOOD

Grill Royal:

A place to meet and for meat!

Neni:

One the few spots in Berlin for lunch and dinner with a stunning view.

DAYTRIPS

Einsteinturm:  

Each Berlin trip should include the first modernist building. It's a 45 minute ride to Potsdam to see Erich Mendelsohn's Einstein Tower.

Luckenwalde Hutfabrik:

Another Erich Mendelsohn building worth a daytrip is the hat factory in Luckenwalde. About a one hour drive and you can visit a masterpiece of early 20th century industrial building.

Dessau, Bauhaus:

Take a 1.5 hours train trip to Dessau and: Bauhaus!

Wolfsburg:

One hour by fast train and you are in Wolfsburg. Visit Zaha Hadid's Phaeno, the Autostadt by Volkwagen, the fantastic exhibitions at the Wolfsburg Art Museum, and many more masterpieces by architects Alvar Aalto and Hans Scharoun.

ABOUT Jürgen Mayer H.

J. MAYER H. was founded in 1996 by Jürgen Mayer H. in Berlin. In January 2014, Andre Santer and Hans Schneider joined as partners in the firm. Jürgen Mayer H. studied at Stuttgart University, The Cooper Union and Princeton University. His work has been published and exhibited worldwide and is part of numerous collections including MoMA New York and SF MoMA and also private collections. National and international awards include the Mies van der Rohe Award Emerging Architect Special Mention 2003, Winner Holcim Award Bronze 2005 and Winner Audi Urban Future Award 2010.

Jürgen Mayer H. has taught at Princeton University, University of the Arts Berlin, Harvard University, Kunsthochschule Berlin, the Architectural Association in London, the Columbia University, New York and at the University of Toronto, Canada.  He is a member of the advisory boards at Princeton University Architecture School, The  Bauhaus Stiftung Dessau, Flussbad Berlin e.V. and Make Shift Architecture Festival Berlin 2015.