When they hear the word “Plattenbau” or industrialised apartment block, most people think of grey, cheerless facades stretching into the distance that make it hard to believe it is possible to live a happy life there. But not so in Berlin Lichtenberg! The area is full of apartment blocks – so much so that it is the second most densely populated district in Berlin. To make the area more colourful, the buildings along Herzbergstraße and around Roederplatz each have a distinct colour or pattern which gives the area a unique retro charm. My favourite is the building shown in this picture – a giant rainbow is floating all over the facade and makes me happy every time I see it!