Mauerpark

Design in mission to bring people together in Berlin, Germany

Name	Mauerpark
Place	Berlin
Country	Germany
Topic	Design in mission to bring people together
Author(s)	Prof. Gustav Lange (first phase 1992-94)
Completion	unknown
Client	Land Berlin
Project costs	unknown
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="52.54259" lon="13.403363" zoom="15" width="300" height="250"> 52.541196, 13.403465 Berlin, Mauerpark </googlemap>

Rationale: Why is this case study interesting?

This project is very important because it is created to bring people together and increase their life quality which is the main objective of Landscape Architecture. Former death zone between two world is today one of the most important meeting points for every generation and one of the rare examples of very high frequency of people but peaceful and non-vandalistic use. The park is also very important for the microclimate of the very dense populated area of Berlin. These facts are important and a reason for the completion of the park area.

This project has a countless importance for Berlin's people. A city with a tragical and complex history. This is personally important for me to research about projects, especially in my special field and contribute to the development of the area, to show other people the history of the city and that Landscape Architecture can improve people's lives. I personally feel connected with the city and its history, a city which I consider as my second home.

Author's perspective

• What theoretical or professional perspective do you bring to the case study?

This project has a countless importance for Berlin's people. A city with a tragical and complex history. This is personally important for the author to research about projects, especially in my special field and contribute to the development of the area, to show other people the history of the city and that Landscape Architecture can improve people's lives. The author feels personally connected with the city and its history, a city which he considers as his second home town.

Berlin's Landscape Architecture is on a moderate level but the theoretical and design knowledge has to be connected with the political situation, the history etc. Planning and architecture sociology can play a big role in the completion process.

Landscape and/or urban context

• Biogeography, cultural features, overall character, history and dynamics

Mauerpark is located between former East Berlin's municipality of Prenzlauer Berg (Soviet sector) and West Berlin's municipality of Wedding (French sector). After the restructuration of Berlin's municipalities in 2001 Prenzlauer Berg became a part of municipality Mitte and Wedding a part of municipality Pankow. These city parts are very dense populated and the most inhabitants have lower incomes than Berlin's average.

The park area lies on the Barnim moraine and a parts on a small hill.

Illustration: Map; sketches; short descriptive analyses

Cultural/social/political context

• Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework

As already mentioned the quarters around the park belong to the lower income category and the most inhabitants are students or young families who live in buildings, very typical for Berlin: the most 5 stores, most flats are for renting and they were build in the last decades of the 19. century and the beginnings of the 20. century. So the Berliners say that the most parks visitors are families with children or young people and students-very brindle but representing the creative power of the city.

Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes

History

• How did the area/project/plan at the focus of the case study evolve?

The area was previously an industrial railway station. During the division of Berlin into East and West, it became a very dangerous green area between the two parts of the world. After the removal of the wall, people from both sides met and planted trees besides the spontaneous vegetation. The authorities published in the early 2000's a plan to finish the construction of the 10 ha park area but there are financial problems and the fact that they want to give some areas for building constructions.

Spatial analysis of area/project/plan

• What are the main structural features?
• How has it been shaped? Were there any critical decisions?

There are still discussions of what size the park should have-a lot of them in front of the court, citizen initiatives against the authorities which also include demonstrations. The people don't want to let the park are to became another flat-for-rent building.

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

Core questions working group open spaces

How does the design of an open space contribute to a run down neighbourhood?

test, test, test

How are open spaces linked to the adjacent areas?

(e.g. neighbourhoods, city centre, river)

The park is very good connected to the city centre and other parts of the city by local streets (main street there are the Danziger&Eberswalder Street as well as the Schoenhauser Alley) and public transport including the urban and metro rail, tramway and buses.

How are open spaces used?

(e.g. which groups meet there, which functions does an open space fulfil)

As already told, in the popular Mauerpark we can find very different groups, fromyoung families to punks. The main function is the recreational and hygienic function of the area because it is situated in a very dense populated area build during the industrialization for the working class. The life conditions back then, in the end of the 19. and at the beginning of the 20. century, missed high quality and especially a immense a lack of open and green spaces.

How can the historical background of an open space be shown to the public?

Not many open spaces in the world have such a turbulent and tragical history. It was the no man's land between the two world powers. As in many similar places in Berlin, there are very interesting projects and ways to show the history of the place besides some text and pictures on the locality. There are more and more art installations but also modern architectural&landscape architectural complexes such as in the Bernauer Street. Very effective ways to show the past are placing and installing of original objects (tanks, sand bags etc.)or replicas (like at Checkpoint Charlie). The proposals go to extremes by proposing to rebuild some parts of the wall and some guarding towers.

Analysis of program/function

• What are the main functional characteristics?
• How have they been expressed or incorporated?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

The main functional characteristic is the free choice of recreation type and the fact that the people visit the park to meet other people so it is very clear view in all directions with not too much planting materials or destroy of the "natural" meeting place by installing structures or devices. This kind of design is perfect for this area and does not require huge costs.

Analysis of design/planning process

• How was the area/project/plan formulated and implemented?
• Were there any important consultations/collaborations?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

The first phase was formulated and implemented in the early 90's so we can analyze only this planning period for now on. The best possible of collaboration in the future would be the highest possible level of local participation in the design/planning process.

Analysis of use/users

• How is the area/project/plan used and by whom?
• Is the use changing? Are there any issues?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

The area is used by the locals but also by people from other parts of Berlin and by tourists. This part has a cult status as an open space that represents the destroy of the old death zone between the pacts and as an open space that brings various people together, from artists and musicians to young mothers.

Future development directions

• How is the area/project/plan evolving?
• Are there any future goals?

Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes

There are many proposals but no definite one so the net step is to study the most official and realistic and predict the best and worst possible case from the inhabitant's point of view.

Peer reviews or critique

• Has the area/ project/plan been reviewed by academic or professional reviewers?
• What were their main evaluations?

Pleas add references, quotes...

Unfortunately, for this area the Berliners show a lot of interests. There must follow a serious professional discussion about the area which could serve as a model for importance and possible achievements for Landscape Architecture. There are no serious reviews made by professionals on this area.

Points of success and limitations

• What do you see as the main points of success and limitations of the area/project/plan?

Illustration: Summary table

There is still no definitely project for the area and limitations are only intentions to make the park smaller and the endless discussions about the area.

What can be generalized from this case study?

• Are there any important theoretical insights?

Short statement plus background notes

We can conclude that with the completion of this park, Berlin will became a area where people meet together who've lived for almost 40 years just meters away but unreachable and disconnected. This area is also important for the social contact between the new generations and for the life quality in this very dense populated area. This is a perfect example that Landscape Architecture is able to create such spaces, important for the history, the lifes of the inhabitants, urban ecology etc.

Which research questions does it generate?

Short statement plus background notes

The most important one in the first phase of the research:

Is Landscape Architecture able to bring people together and deal with very complex historical and social conditions?

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References

Please add literature, documentations and weblinks

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