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?

Please summarise:- e.g. Design Innovation? Planning Exemplar? Theoretical Insights? Lessons learned from its failure? [It doesn’t have to have been successful]
Think about it from the view of another educator/student in a different country. Why should I use this case study in my teaching/education?

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.