Urban centre Gleisdreieck, Berlin, Germany

The property surrounding the train station Gleisdreieck is characterized by its radically changing significance in Berlin. Until 1880, the land was used for freight trains and then disregarded during the post-war period, leading to its abandonment. After the reunification of Germany, there was a gradual rediscovery of the property. Today, the character of the area has changed dramatically due to the development of a large park.

The proposed urban space is constructed scrupulously by using the building lines and references from the surrounding urban structure, giving rise to a new quarter that will exert an architectural influence on the entire surrounding environment for generations to come. The space weaves together existing urban conditions and the park, as a new series of open spaces unfolds between Berlin’s urban blocks.

The result is an ensemble between city and landscape, which acts as an organizing element and closes a long-standing gap in the neighbourhood. Stripes in the paving reinforce spatial dimensions, sight lines and circulatory connections to the bordering park and urban structure. Particularly noteworthy are the roofscapes, offering green oases, sun terraces and small plazas.