Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

IN COOPERATION WITH
The Urban Management Program
and the Urban Design Dual Degree
Program, TU Berlin as well as the
Universidad Catolica De Chile

FEATURED BY
Urban Research and Design Laboratory

Project managment
Dipl.-Ing. Paola Alfaro d’Alençon
Dipl.-Ing. Daniela Konrad

Student assistents
Gabi Eisenreich, Anton Katzer

Debut Workshop +
Introductional dialog session

Planungslabor: Urban Research and Design Laboratory . Technische Universität Berlin . Fakultät VI . Institut für Architektur . Sekr. A 53 . ulab@architektur.tu-berlin.de . http://ulab.architektur.tu-berlin.de
 Introduction
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory The urban space constitutes a palimpsest: a series of

overlaid approaches constructed at different historical
moments.
OBERE STADTSPREE Lefebvre 1991; Harvey 2000; Koolhaas 1999
However, it is a space shaped by associated commercial
activities and their dynamics. Weber 1956; Castells 2001
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
The metropolis strives to reach a mythical point where
the world is completely fabricated by man, so that it
absolutely coincides with his desires. The metropolis is
an addictive machine, from which there is no escape,
unless it offers that, too ....
Koolhaas 1978
working tool. Last but not least, a research paper will
allow a series of students to focus critically on research
topics related to the Spree area.
II. Debut Workshop, 25th – 29th of October
2010
Together with guests, researchers and students of
the Universidad Catolica de Chile and Valparaiso,
architecture and planning students of the TU Berlin
(Urban Management, Urban Design, Architecture and
Regional planning) a first workshop will take place of the
Urban Research and Design Laboratory.

Main objective is to enable the social – spatial

I. Winter Term 2010 – CASE STUDY, Obere
understanding on complex urban development
Stadtspree in Berlin
process as the Obere Stadtspree case study represents.
Supportive targets are the research on the subject
Sustainable remodeling of urban waterfront areas, such
from various perspectives within a solid, rigorous and
as the Obere Stadtspree
updated base on the development process of the case
River Spree in Berlin in Berlin, are exposed to manifold requirements. Due to
study in Berlin.
marketing interests and
standards of international investors, the practice of its
INPUT: The objective and targets encompasses a
revitalization is often in conflict
blend of various methodologies using field research,
with local efforts to develop sustainable living areas of
literature review, reference case studies as well as the
high quality. Together with key
fundamental knowledge providing dialogs within the
stakeholders the Urban Research and Design Laboratory
stakeholders during the Introductional dialog session,
of the TU Berlin will investigate the spatial qualities
28th of October 2010.
and social configurations of the area of the Obere
Stadtspree.
RESEARCH TOPICS: During the workshops the participants
are requested to search on the developments of the
The Focus of the overall teaching unit in the winter term
Obere Stadtspree case study. Groups formed by six
2010 will be on field research and area documentations,
students will analyse important key-topics (social/
the development of conceptual approaches, as well as
cultural/local/spatial/economical/ecological) of the
development plans and design projects. Additionally
Obere Stadtspree development process:
the Urban Research and Design Laboratory will work
on the development of a weblog as communication and
/ INTRODUCTION
 III. TASK Ralf Steeg
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
Graduate engineer of Landscape Architecture and Envi-
1. Evaluation of potentials of the Obere Stadtspree ronmental Planning.
2. Evaluation of problems of the Obere Stadtspree Director of SPREE2011, director of LURI.watersystems.
3. Evaluation on complementary visions/solutions to GmbH.
OBERE STADTSPREE the Obere Stadtspree
Margarita Greene Zúñig
Each Group is requested to nominate speakers for Professor at the Universidad Catholica de Chile.
Debut Workshop the elaborated points 1-3. Groups of same speakers
25.10. – 29.10.2010 Ulla Luther
formulate significant questions for the introductional Professor at the BTU Cottbus, Privy Council a.D., CEU
dialog sessions with practitioners and stakeholders. Germany.
Speakers organize themselves for the sessions:
- discussion round (see program 1) Kristien Ring
- discussion round (see program 2) Director DAZ Berlin.
- final discussion

V. VENUE
IV. OBERE STADTSPREE stakeholders Geodätenstand, main building, TU-Berlin
Keynote Speakers and Lecturers

Carl Herwarth v. Bittenfeld

Head of the Urban Planning and Architecture office
Herwarth + Holz.

Rainer Nagel
Senate Departement for Urban Development Berlin,
Head of Department of Urban Planning and Open
Space.

Takis Sgouros
Senate Departement for Urban Development Berlin,
Department of Urban Planning and Projects.

Jan Dohnke
TEAS FU-Berlin.

/ INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS

I.- Lines to Obere Stadtspree on Problems,

Possibilities and Visions to the following nine Key-
topics: Social, Cultural, Local, Spatial, Economical,
Ecological, Public/Private, River based approach,
Stakeholders. Including a three round dialogs
session: Keynotes, lectures & Discussions with
stakeholders, planning ministry and planners on
Problems, Possibilities and Visions.

Students Groups:
1.- Social
2.- Cultural
3.- Local
4.- Spatial
5.- Economical
6.- Ecological
7.- Public Private:
8.- River Based Approach:
9.- Stakeholders

CONTENTS
 Urban Research and Design SOCIAL ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Renata Goretti, Urban Management (Architect); Aline Delatte, Urban Management (Civil
engenieer) ; Simona Benedetti, Architecture (Architect); Angie Garita, PUC Chile (Architect); Zhao Xinghua, Urban
Design Dual Degree (Architect); Laura Strandt, Urban Design Dual Degree (Landscape Architect)
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Different requirements (Source: self-made)

SOCIAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION
 POTENTIALS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- Interaction of People of all generations and interests
OBERE STADTSPREE
- Interaction of Neigbourhoods in all directions

Debut Workshop - Feeling of the river

25.10. – 29.10.2010

- Green area along the west side of the wall

- Oberbaum City

- Vacant places – meeting points

- Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn Station

- Badeschiff

- The river as a meeting point

- Integrator of Neighbourhoods

- Molecule Mann

- Tourism and daily workers

- Day and night life

- Beaches (SPREE 2011)

Image: Badeschiff (Source: http://www.locr.com/photo-germany-berlin-berlin-eichenstra%C3%9Fe-4-13209803, 10 /29 /2010, 2.38pm)

Image: Molecule Man (Source: http://belegtesbro.wordpress.com/, 10 /29 /2010, 2.40pm)
SOCIAL ASPECTS / POTENTIALS
 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- No permanent activities
OBERE STADTSPREE
- No everyday activities

Debut Workshop - No access to the River Spree

25.10. – 29.10.2010
- River as a clear boundary

- Not enough possiblities to cross the river

- The backs of the buildings face the river

- Not many attractions / services

- Perspective blocked by the wall

- Neighbourhoods are independent

- Activities do not integrate people

- People do not feel connected to the river

- Security problems

- No lightening

- Citizen were not too involved to “Mediaspree in the

beginning”

Image: “Mediaspree” opposers (Source: http://www.spreeufer-fuer-alle.de/Presse/Bilder.html, 10 /29 /2010, 3.41pm)

Image: Access and bright prospects?! (Source: http://stralau.in-berlin.de/blog/2008/07/, 10 /29 /2010, 3.54pm)
SOCIAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory - Seeing and feeling the river

OBERE STADTSPREE - Easy access to the river

- Easy crossing of the river

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- Integration between both banks

- Continuous connexion for pedestrian and bike

betwenn Mitte and Treptower Park

- Encourage people to stay there (Tourists, Locals,

Workers, O2 Spectators)

- 24-hours Mixed-Uses/Activities
(sports, children entertainement, services, shops, night
life...)

Image: Accesses
Image: Potzdamer Platz, Berlin
Image: Pont des Arts, Paris
Image: Miroir d‘eau, Bordeaux
SOCIAL ASPECTS / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory Problems - Integrate the local residents previous

OBERE STADTSPREE 1) From the social perspective, how to
bring development without expelling loclas?
Debut Workshop 2) Considering the Mediaspree
25.10. – 29.10.2010
experience, what new strategies have been
developed for public participation?
Potentials
1) How much is the social part taking in
consideration with new plans in the area?
Vision
1) How to overcome the district barriers
which now exist because of the river Spree?
- Never finish the process and keep areas open for
temporary use -> Berln is exciting because of these gaps
- But also the development needs to be organized
- You need investors, too -> they bring money ..
- Berlin lost circa 1 million inhabitants since the 2nd
word war -> “Berlin is too big for Berlin” (Ulla Luther)
- Concepts should be for mixed use and there should be
left space for “try and error” (Jan Dohnke)
- Which social level we want to have? And we need to
consider old people and children!
- A completely new planning would violate the excisting
structures maybe -> Thus “it is better to develop areas
step by step” (Jan Dohnke)
- “If laws are too srtict less investors will come <-> if laws
are too loose they would destroy the urban structure.”
(Takis Sgouros)
- Development without gentrification and higher rents?
-> difficult to plan for public without public funds..
- “You can`t plan creativity” (Takis Sgouros)
- There needs to be more influence for citizens -> “More
information earlier, but also there have to be a seriously
participation of citizens.” (Jan Dohnke)
- “One or two bridges would not solve the problems...”
(Takis Sgouros)
- “It would be nice to have a new urban boulevard” (Ulla
Luther)
- Develop the surrounding neighbourhoods to develop
the center (Jan Dohnke)
- But still the sixty-four-dollar question: How to manage
the private and public needs?
- “The concept is the most important .“ (Takis Sgouros)
- Social projects? -> “Then they have to be realistic and
financially feasible.” (Takis Sgouros)

SOCIAL ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design RESEARCH TOPIC: CULTURAL ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Marco Capitanio Urban Design Dual Degree (Bachelor Architecture); Ingrid Cornejo, Urban
Management (Bachelor Architecture); Anke von der Heide, Urban Design Dual Degree (Diplom Designer);
Christopher Knappe, Master Stadt und Regionalplanung (Bachelor Stadt und Regionalplanung); Guanyu Sun,
Urban Design Dual Degree (Bachelor Architecture); Christian Valenzuela Abdala, Master Urban Planning (Master
OBERE STADTSPREE
Architecture)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Temporary Users

Natural Cultural Recorces

Business Area

Residencial Area

CULTURAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION

 INTRODUCTION A compact history:
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory The Obere Stadtspree quarter is the result of complex

historical layers: four municipalities are meeting along
the river Spree, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte and
OBERE STADTSPREE Treptow. Not only is the river a natural boundary but
also history split this area into East and West Berlin,
first politically and from 1961 to 1989 physical as well
Debut Workshop with the construction of the Wall.
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Recognizing the peculiarities of each quarter, its
identity and “Stimmung” seems a fundamental need
of future developments: we will now focus specifically
on the cultural aspects of the Obere Stadtspree.
We think that the already existing socio-cultural
structure is a potential and an attraction both for local
inhabitants, the tourist industry and future investors
interested in development along the Spree.
1913 - Opening of the Osthafen, the new industrial
harbor, replacing the former Urbanhaven at the
intersection with the Landwehrkanal.
In 1923 with the construction of Westhafen the
harbor lost progressively importance.
1949 - Political division between GDR and GFR, East
and West Berlin.
1961 - Construction of the Wall and physical division.
1989 - Fall of the Wall and successive German
reunification.
2000s - Projects for the “media” development along
the Spree, Mediaspree

The peculiar urban landscape that can be found is 2008 - Successful public vote against the project
partly derived from the existence of the Wall, the
former presence of the Osthafen, the East harbor of
Berlin and its historical buildings and industrial relics,
the new, only partly realized Mediaspree buildings...

From international experience we see that a mixture

of uses is a desirable aspiration: international
investors and local needs, touristic attractions and
low-profile activities, services and light-industrial
functions could result in a lively Oberespree
community.

CULTURAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION

 POTENTIALS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory 1.the sub culture movement taking place in this area

combined or a sponsor for the exiting international
globe investors such as MTV, Universial ,and hotel ,ect
OBERE STADTSPREE ...

2.The local culture and its peculiar aspects such as

Debut Workshop the gardening (schrebergarten),and the image or
25.10. – 29.10.2010
character of the neighbourhood as a result of it

3.The lifestyle and boundary atmosphere of the

neighbourhood somehow kept or frozen bythe
culture and physical fence surrounding it

CULTURAL ASPECTS / POTENTIALS

 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory It can be noted that towards the inner quarters there

is a consolidated social and cultural structure: from
a quick visit to the site we found cultural centers,
OBERE STADTSPREE communal gardens and quarter and local activities.
This has then no connection with functions on
the river banks, since they are partly developed by
Debut Workshop international companies and former industrial uses.
25.10. – 29.10.2010

On of the main attempt for a future planning would

be to “sue”, or at least to mix this to cultural worlds:
what happens when global interests represented by
multination companies meet with the local needs?

The area then has strongly characterized image,

internationally renown, for party-goers and night-life
fans. Here arises a particular contradiction: this special
atmosphere resulted from a lack of planning, or the
so-called “Zwischennutzung”, a temporary and more
or less informal use on vacant plots of land.

A book published in 2009, “Lost and Sound: Berlin,

Techno und der Easyjetset” defined the enthusiastic
international party-crew as the “Easyjetset”, flying to
Berlin, staying a weekend and flying back. What
will happen under more precise planning rules and
design attempts?

An attention towards “Zwischennutzung” seems

necessary to keep at certain grade the existing and
attractive image of the area.

CULTURAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS

 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

CULTURAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS

 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory At first, here live different kinds of people, they have

different culture and background, they also have
different jobs, therefore, their living radius mixed
OBERE STADTSPREE because of their individual activities.
Is there any possibility to transform this kind of
mixture cultural-wise?
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Here also gatherd many young people, they might
come from Paris or London, they all have a same
target, they just want to come and enjoy the bear and
underground music here. Many clubs opened and the
buildings are too shabby, and used for temporary, the
walls are full of doodles.

At the same time we are also thinking that it might be

possible to attract more investors, their actions might
promote the development of the special culture in
this area, but also they may destroy the atmosphere
in this district.

Meanwhile we should also let the owners know their

responsibilities towards the social, thus give the
inhabitants more public space in this harbour area.

-Administrative organizations should prepare a

support program which will evoluate the cultural
structure without destroying the character of the
area.

High-line New York, Puerto Madero

CULTURAL ASPECTS / VISIONS

 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory How to take profit of the existing local culture and

integrate it into the planning process? (gardening)
“Zwischennutzung” was particularly addressed by
Herr Nagel: it is a peculiarity of the city of Berlin
indeed, and as such it deserves much attention. It is
OBERE STADTSPREE needed for the Obere Stadtspree a general concept,
How economical important is the tourist industry for but not a complete and fully developed masterplan.
the area and the city? Developing such a huge area takes many decades
Debut Workshop Should this area remain attractive to the international and it makes sense to slow down the process, rather
25.10. – 29.10.2010
“Easy Jet set”? than speed it up.

A sustainability in economic terms is crucial to assure

Is it possible to create a suitable cultural mixture
between international global investors and local
peculiar aspects?
Might it be for example possible to win international
global investors as sponsors for local improvements
cultural and social wise?
the success of future developments: this is true also
for the cultural aspects, with a mixture between
established institution (e.g. museums) as well as
temporary, “underground” cultural expressions.
The constrains of time and the scale of land is
important.
The smaller a cell becomes, the better to connect
places and the better the mixture of facilities. If you
plan in too big scales it might be possible to reduce
the local situation and life. Another point was that
we need to mix night and day life in a healthy way to
create a mix of generations.

CULTURAL ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 RESEARCH TOPIC : LOCAL
GROUP MEMBERS: Sang Hyun Jeon, Urban Management, Hwon Yoon, Urban Management, Jorge Ampuero,
Master of Urban Project, Chille, (Architect), Feng Wanyao, Master Urban Design (Dual Degree ), Sun Junhua,
Master Urban Design (Dual Degree ), Yan Jia, Master Urban Design (Dual Degree ), Launay Angèle, Master
OBERE STADTSPREE
Architectur (Erasmus student).

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Caption
LOCAL / INTRODUCTION
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
POTENTIALS
• Capacity of the local people to imagine different
usages in a same place, which is a free-space,
especially depends on the time and the season.
• Shinnig places; like offices, cultural center, sport
center and the most historical sites
• The importance of the element “WATER” as natural
landscape in different climate
• Important geografical point for the city berlin and
the 4 districts (F-hains, X-berg, Mitte, Treptow-
Kopenick) who crossroad there.
Image: 24h usage of the site
The site is a succession of different usages
and functionnal sequences. It’s possible for the
multiplicity of people who are coming into the site
to create their own 24 hours senario. People could
build the link between the many free-spaces and the
monothematical places.
A 24hours usage have to be developpe in the cross of
a local and a global visions, in order to made working
the mixity and the flexibility of the site.
LOCAL / POTENTIALS
 Separation

With the reunification of Berlin, local areas around

River spree had undergone rapid changes. Especially,
Kreuzberg had emerged as a specialized cultural area
OBERE STADTSPREE for various artists, young people. Furthermore, various
people have various nationalities and various cultural
backgrounds are merged to this area. Although districts
Debut Workshop around river Spree had unified, some significant
25.10. – 29.10.2010
separations derived from river Spree itself.

• Cultural separation
• Spatial separation

Due to the various interests concerned in these areas

such as governors, urban designers, investors, land
owners and residents. However, the development is
led to the separated situation. It is the subject how to
regulate development of these areas, furthermore, it’s
the subject how to develop or how to preserve these
areas, too.

In addition, people not only low income class but high

income class are merged to this area. They made some
segregations between these two social classes. It looks
that these distinctions transfomed to differences among
facades of buildings in this area.

However, identity of local area would be made by

cultural images, spatial images and people, these
problems blur the identity of this local area.

LOCAL / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS

1.Sight Corridor
People walk alone the river could feel the activity
of other side from the well designed empty space
OBERE STADTSPREE between buildings, and vice versa. In that way, the
riverside area is becoming an atractive center as a
whole.
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

2. Multi function in local buildings

In both sides of the spree river there exist a lot of
local buidings which fade away with the time
flying. We could implant new dynamic and various
fouctions to attract different kind of people to stay
there in different time of the 24 hours.

3. Temporary buildings in empty space

There is a piece of empty space along the river
which is not well designed and fully used. The pubs
and clubs there are not known by the public, so that
locals and travellers won’t stay there in the daytime.
In our opinion, temporary using buildings can creat
diversity spaces there in order to let the place be
more public to attract people stay there in daytime
but not just pass by.
Image: Sight corridor
Image: Multi fuction in local buildings
Image: Temporary using buildings
LOCAL / VISIONS
 Question 1. Could it be that the Spree River a contradictional scale,
There are too many identities existing in the area, to little as global vision, and not enough board for the
how can you integrate them into new competitive local people? It’s in the theory possible to enlarge in
identity? some place the river in free-spaces?
Notes from the debate Well, it’s possible. But it’ s just like all the other projects,
OBERE STADTSPREE Well, firstly we have made lot of physical planning you have to be on the cross vision of local and global,
work, such as rethink about the river as well as riverside. and keep the interest of the investisor.
Especially we also focused on the participation through
Debut Workshop the entire project. Different people who come from
25.10. – 29.10.2010
different cultures got different opinions, and it seems Question 3.
that the process like integration and mixture of multi- To realistic the 24 hours program, could we put some
identities. creative studios and other functions there to attract
Yes, we would say it could be possible to mix the people in different period of time?
different culture as identities. It still needs long way to
go to make proper policies and the clear presentations Notes from the debate
to let the citizens to get to understand the process as Well, it could be possible. But creative business cannot
well as new identities. be designed. It will grow up as it will because of the
specialist. The designer cannot design it at first, and
even cannot foresee its success or not. It is one of the
Question 2. problems here. Secondly, what kind of function should
How could we keep or make the better balance be put in the area is another question and a lot of
between limited usage-buildings and free-spaces research is quite necessary. You should make an open
where people could imagine temporary and different discussion with the locals and show them the research
functions depends on the time and the seasons? and the plan. When the local public involved, they can
Notes of the debate provide their own ideas which will be very helpful for
Berlin is a geographical and political crossroad in you to find the right way.
Europe, with inverse poblem as Paris or London or
as we see, Main city as Santiago in Chile. There is too
much free-spaces for too less people. However Berlin is
cleaver, poor and sexy, people come to learn, but can’t
stay to work. In order to maintain the talent people
who could be able to enrich the city . The balance
could be keeped if people are agree to appropriate
them other place in Berlin, and new designed places.
Berlin have other free space, like Tempelhof where is a
temporary park now. What is difficult is to remember
that temporary places for people, espacially after few
year, since it is just for a limited time.

Image: first site analysis

LOCAL / QUESTIONS & NOTES
 SPATIAL ASPECTS
GROUP MEMBERS: Anthony Guadagni, Urban Management (BS Geology);
Hyun-jin Shin, Urban Design Dual Degree (Interior Architecture );
Wentao Zheng, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture);
OBERE STADTSPREE
Heng Zhang, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture);
Yassine Moustanjidi, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture);
Yuley Fernandes, Architecture;
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010 Elnur Abbasov, Administrate Management.

Spatial, Potential and Limitation

SPATIAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION
 POTENTIALS

OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Natural Landscape:
The Spree provides a natural landscape that
cannot be synthetically replicated. It is simultaneously
serene, powerful, historic; in a word intriguing to
Berliners and world travelers alike. It is, in itself, a greater
attraction than any existing or future development
along its banks.
The Obere StadtSpree displays several
physical attributes that make it a prime location for
redevelopment. It is the widest, straightest stretch
of the river within Berlin proper, thereby providing
unimpeded views of the city center to the west and of
the bygone era of early industrialization to the east.

Location:
The Obere StadtSpree is central to four of Berlin’s
most vibrant and densely populated neighborhoods:
Mitte to the north, Kreuzberg to the west, Friedrichshain
to the east and Treptow to the south. The population
surrounding the river is sufficient to support the influx
of business attracted by the prospect of redevelopment
and will benefit tremendously from the associated
increase in public land along and adjacent to the
waterfront. Public transportation from points east and
west is adequate to serve the as an artery to the rest of
the city.
bank provides an excellent locale for public use. A large
number of undeveloped lots remain from when the
Obere StadtSpree was an area to be avoided.
History:
The east bank of the Spree to the north of the
Ober Baumbrücke is home to the largest remaining
stretch of the Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery is
one of Berlin’s most visited tourist attractions and will
continue to draw visitors numbering in the hundreds of
thousands annually.

Development:
The varied history of land use along the
Obere StadtSpree has provided the region with unique
prospects for redevelopment. Initially developed during
the early industrial era, the banks are lined with large
formerly industrial buildings and warehouses that can
be modernized while still maintaining a semblance of
regional identity.
As the Obere StadtSpree lies in the shadow of
the wall, the former ‘no man’s land’ along the east
Image: Undeveloped Property
SPATIAL ASPECTS / POTENTIALS
 PROBLEMS

Accessibility:
The largest problem facing the development of
the Obere StadtSpree is the limited waterfront access.
OBERE STADTSPREE In its current configuration, the Spree is the region’s
singular draw; however, the large, privately held
blocks provide little in the way of a physical or visual
Debut Workshop connection to the water. In short, it is quite likely that
25.10. – 29.10.2010
a visitor unfamiliar with the local geography could pass
within a block of the Spree without being aware of its
proximity.
Physical access is limited by a number of man-
made features that impede access from all directions.
Access from the north is cut-off by the Wall and the
above ground train tracks stretching from Warschauer
Straβe to Ostbahnhof; the south bank is limited by
privately held properties developed directly on the
water front.
In the few areas where water front access is
possible, the Spree is uninviting. The river is lined by
vertical concrete flood banks extending approximately
one and one-half meters above mean water level. The
flood banks do serve an important function, but act as
barrier to those seeking recreation along the river and
pose a safety hazard.

Fragmentation:
The Obere StadtSpree suffers from a lack of
connectivity between its north and south banks. Four
bridges span the Spree In the 3.7 kilometers between
Jannowitzbrücke and Elsenbrücke. While these
adequately serve vehicular traffic, pedestrians are
unlikely to walk the long distances required to cross
the river. The result is residential populace relegated
to their side of the river and isolated from whatever
benefit lies on the other.

Image: restricted access

SPATIAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS

Increased Access:
The region would benefit tremendously from
increased public and semi-public access. A water front
OBERE STADTSPREE esplanade running the length of the Obere StadtSpree
would provide a recreational area that would serve a
large number of residents. Additionally, a waterfront
Debut Workshop esplanade would create easier pedestrian access to the
25.10. – 29.10.2010
business and residences within several blocks of the
Spree.
Physical and visual connection could perhaps
be best provided by the implementation of standardized
building codes mandating the subdivision of large lots
into smaller parcels and requiring a minimum setback
from the water to provide sufficient land for public use.

Common Identity:
The Obere StadtSpree should have a singular
identity defined by the water, rather then merely be
the border between other neighborhoods. The identity
should spread to the areas around the river and can be
facilitated by increased physical and visual access to the
water.
In the areas where conventional physical and visual
connectivity with the river is not possible, alternative
methods should be taken to remind visitors of their
proximity to the water. Architecture should be vaguely
reminiscent of water; walkways should meander rather
than run in straight lines; artwork should be aquatic
without being obtuse.

Image: Sketches depicting reclaimation of waterfront
Urban Destination:
The Obere StadtSpree will become an urban
destination. Weary urbanites will have a tranquil refuge
to enjoy at weeks end; busy business people will have
the fine dining with an international ambiance; young
folks can enjoy the vibrant nightlife. The final results
will be a varied landscape that is attractive 24-hours per
day in all seasons.
SPATIAL ASPECTS / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS
• What is an appropriate balance between new
development with modern amenities and maintenance
of historical structures?
OBERE STADTSPREE
• How can urban planners ad designers meld
the interests of private property owner with the overall
Debut Workshop benefit to the city?
25.10. – 29.10.2010
• Is the current transportation infrastructure
running north-south along the Spree adequate
to support the increased traffic associated with
redevelopment?
• How will the water itself be utilized as a multi-
use area?
NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
• Proposed setback from the river for new
development is 10m
• Development of a waterfront promenade is
considered of high importance
• The goal is not to develop all open plots
simultaneously; gaps in the urban fabric create the
feeling of an exciting, dynamic city
• Focus on social and economical sustainability
• Landscape design of public spaces should
facilitate year-round usage
• Development over the water itself cannot
interfere with aquatic traffic; no other restrictions exist
on development within the waerway
SPATIAL ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES
 Urban Research and Design ECONOMIC ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Ulrich Pappenberger, Urban Design (B.Sc. Urban and Regional Planning); Sebastian Roßius,
Urban Design Dual Degree (B.Sc. Urban Planning); Emilio Berrios, Urban Management (Diploma Architecture);
Edwin Linderkamp, Urban Management (B.A. Business Management Economics); Jose Reyes, Guest Student
OBERE STADTSPREE
(Diploma Economist)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Scale of Plots

ECONOMIC ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION
 POTENTIALS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
As a potential we can recognize these issues:

- Under used space: considering Berlin’s special situation,

in the area are several different empty spaces that could
OBERE STADTSPREE potentially be used. Even though most of the land was
sold, the construction phase has not been developed,
so it’s a potential area for land usage.
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- Uninhabited waterfront: most of the river’s border can
be used for housing, which means, from a physical point
of view that the change process is easier to resolve and
public space could be considered or developed in this
area.

- Comparable cheap land: in comparison with others

big cities and their waterfronts in Europe, this land is
inexpensive, as well as the interior parts of the city.
- Three different potential areas to develop:

- Northwest: big empty plots without a waterfront

- Southwest: fragmented area with medium sized
plots and partially occupied by old big buildings and
factories. There is a direct waterfront.
- Northeast: medium plot area, directly along the
waterfront.

- Increasing rent and land prices: good for owner

investors and to activate the development process.

- Local economic activities: several different local

economic activities exist in the neighborhoods, which
could be used to develop the area, such as: restaurants,
cafes, bars, clubs, fashion designers, little shops,
tourism, etc.

Image 1: Potential Areas

Image 2: Under-used space
Image 3: Local economic activities
ECONOMIC ASPECTS / POTENTIALS

Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Image 1: “Spreeufer versenken!”
Image 2: Demonstrations
PROBLEMS
From an economic point of view the main problem is
the peoples resistance to the development of an urban
project in the area. The inhabitants were able to stop
the “Mediaspree” investment and that caused the
reluctance from the investor’s side. Currently there is
no certainty about the ongoing developments in the
area, so investors are trying to avoid any risk, and will
not invest anymore money there.
Another problem is the fragmentation of the land
ownership. There is not only one owner, instead there
are many of them. So in the case of developing a large
urban complex the investors would have to negotiate
with a lot of people. This may not only be problematic
for the investors, also for the local authorities in the
case of trying to provide certain infrastructure or trying
to delineate integrated urban space. On top of this issue
is the problem caused by the price speculation from the
owners side. It seems plausible that the dis coordinated
actions of all of them developed an overpriced situation,
which inhibits the development of the projects in the
area.
Also, currently there appears to be a phenomenon of
excess supply of office rooms. The demand for them
appears to be lower than expected in the case of the
Postdamer Platz. The supply of offices is a central
aspect of most large urban developments. This situation
seems to decrease the attractiveness of the site for the
investors.
Finally the area is divided in a non-integrated way since
there is no bridge across the river between the Elsen
and Jannowitz bridges. These bridges separate the area
in a vast manner which inhibits the development of
cohesionated urban designs. The consequence of this
is that the attractiveness of the site is reduced for the
people and the value for the investors is decreased.
ECONOMIC ASPECTS / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
Related to the problems and potentials some of the
solutions that could be considered are:

- Starting with “key projects” to involve the community

OBERE STADTSPREE to gain trust. To restart the process with projects related
to public space, to provide trust for the community and
to get their support.
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- Local based economics: local economic activities might
be considered in the development as a way to provide
local identity and gain community acceptance.

- Temporary uses: such as expositions or public

activities could be developed in empty areas for the
investors to build, but also to leave free public space to
do these activities that are valuable for Berlin and the
community.

- Public participation: considering the “Mediaspree”

experience, public opinion must be considered at the
beginning as a part of the design process. One option
could be to establish focus groups with representative
people from the community, to consider their desires
and expectations for the area.

- Increase the transportation connections of the area:

provide more connections between the river’s borders
and to develop the public transportation system.

- Development of compensation strategies in public

space in the area: synchronize the investor’s interests
with compensation funds for public space.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS / VISIONS

 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
1- Which markets would be most attractive for the 1- It is necessary to consider the following activities:
area? entertainment, business, culture and shopping. These
activities must be considered from two different scales,
2- How will you offer support to investors due to the the global and local scale. By considering big investors
OBERE STADTSPREE inhabitants resistance? and local economic activities, it is very important to
support these local activities. Also it is necessary to
2- Do you have any compensation strategies for consider housing to create or increase markets for these
Debut Workshop reimbursing inhabitants? activities and to bring life to the public space.
25.10. – 29.10.2010

2- How could key projects combine public participants,
small scale entrepreneurs and investors?
3- How will you synchronize the timing between
investors and public participants?
This issue is related to the size of a plot. Big investors are
more interested in big plots to control the development,
while local or minor investors are interested more in
small ones, because they don’t have the financial means
for big ones.

2- The investors are cautious because of the

“Mediaspree” experience, even though most of the land
was sold. A good option will be to develop and build the
infrastructure and public space in the beginning. This
helps provide a proof of interest to the government for
developing the area and to define the scenery for private
development. At the same time you will ensure that the
community will obtain new valuable public space.

3- There must be discussions with the community before

investors arrive. The process must be transparent and
accessible in every step of the planned development.
It is the government or local authority’s task to prepare
the contents for the community participation, so that
the investment process will match with the community
interests.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: (Felipe Rojas, Architecture students (Arts), Johannes Rentsch, Urban Design Master
(Landscape Architecture),Erastus Mutuku, Urban Managment (Urban & Regional Planning), Deborah Nickles,
Urban Design Researchpaper (Architecture), Cécile Oberkampf, Architecture Master; Julita Skodra, Urban
OBERE STADTSPREE
Managment (Architecture)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

ECOLOGICAL / INTRODUCTION

Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
POTENTIALS
The site has a very important ecological potential.
• Air : river corridor is a fresh air entrance.
• Wind : a lot of wind = wind energy potential.
• Sun : sun exposed area = solar energy potential.
• Water : cooling down and purify the air, water
stream (strength) = hydraulic energy production,
transportation, nature feeling, connection between
the city center and the hinterland.
• Nature in the center of the city : the chance to feel
the nature in the center of a metropolis.
• Open Space in the Center of the City, particularly in
Berlin : Berliners have developed since a long time
a culture of open spaces, with temporary uses,
enjoying parks and empty spaces when they can.
high sun exposure
medium sun exposure
map of solar potentials
low sun exposure
ECOLOGICAL / POTENTIALS

Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
PROBLEMS
• Noise pollution : the railway and also the road
parallel to the East Side Gallery.
• Soil pollution : industries were occupying the site
for a long time.
• Air pollution : big road and adjacent industries still
occupy the neighborhood.
• Water pollution : big road, former industries and
actual, ship transports...
• Lack of green spaces : Friedrichshain has no big
open space area
• Disconnection of green spaces : river, transport
system and high density of buildings are problems
for the biodiversity of the city.
ECOLOGICAL / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
• Purification of the water : an ecological purification
central could be an available project in economical
terms but also in an ecological goal.
• Ecological leisure : a recreation park, some places
OBERE STADTSPREE to enjoy swimming in river’s water, develop the
bridges for low-sustainable transportations...
• Energy production : use the natural potentials in an
Debut Workshop ecological way to produce energy (wind turbines,
25.10. – 29.10.2010
hydraulic electricity central)
• Natural Riverbanks or sustainable floating housings
• Develop biologic food production by community
gardenings.
• Think the buildings time in an ecological way : use
of the empty places, ecological way to manage the
construction of a building.

ECOLOGICAL / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS
Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
• The River Spree as a linear corridor that connects
Berlin City Center with its natural Hinterland offers a
lot of important ecological potentials, for example,
the transport of fresh air into the city, as well as
OBERE STADTSPREE the opportunity for the inhabitants to experience
the typical river landscape of the region. Do you
consider that aspect? And what is your approach or
Debut Workshop vision?
25.10. – 29.10.2010
• The ecological new identity of a urban project (it
could be) couldn’t be the solution to solve the
conflicts between the stakeholders?
• In the foregoing process of globalization, cities are
searching for a strong identity that makes them
unique and attractive. The Mediaspree Project was
mean to create to create such a differential, but
it failed. We think that the ecological potential of
this area could be an opportunity for a more radical
urban project focussing on sustainability and eco-
efficiency to give a new positive identity to the area
and the city. Do you consider that aspect and what
is your approach or vision?
• Do the sheet pile wall play a technical role for the
river banks at this point of the Spree river?
NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
To ensure the fresh air transport to the city center, it’s
important to avoid barriers (massive bridges, too much
construction on the Spree) in the river corridor.
One of the main points we noticed during the debate
is to consider very seriously the time dimension in
planning. That’s why the master plan has to stay
flexible, so it could be changed but the concept could
be preserved. Related to that it’s really important to
think about a planning in phases because of the scale of
a urban project and so the time it needs to be realized.
For ecological aspects, it’s recommended to have a look
at the waterfront plan.
Berlin is an amphibious city that means the ground
water level is located at only -2 m.
Berlin is a knowledge city with a high level universities
but also the city loses its students because of the lack
of works and have no opportunities to apply their
learnings. An ambitious project for sustainable energy
development could be a way for them to apply some
researches on a real site and also bring investors of this
sector.
In a really precise way, the straight part of the Spree
between Elsenbrücke and Jannowitzbrücke is used
by ships that produce waves which affect and destroy
natural river bank.
IMPORTANT KEYS TO THINK ABOUT...
Who owns the city?
Berlin is too big for Berlin.
ECOLOGICAL / QUESTIONS & NOTES
 Urban Research and Design PUBLIC - PRIVATE
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Marcus Jeutner, Urban Design (B.sc. Urban and Regionalplanning); Seyedeh Hoda Nabavi,
Urban Management (B.sc. Urban Planning & Design); Qiao Qi, Urban Design Dual Degree (B.a. Architecture); Wang
Jing, Urban Design Dual Degree (B.a. Architecture); Tang Jieqiong, Urban Design Dual Degree (B.a. Architecture)
OBERE STADTSPREE
“Public” ——available without need to pay
“private” ——availale only with payment
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Access denied

PUBLIC - PRIVATE / INTRODUCTION
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
POTENTIALS
- Continuos waterfront space
- Mixed functions to support the space

OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Based on the different current situations on two sides
along the River Spree, we creat a system, which optimizes
the potentials as well as maintaining its identity.
· The Northern side:
String the existing waterfront open space fragments to
creat a continuos experience along the river.
·The Southern side:
Open up the existing void lands next to the river , and
provide some indications leading people to these lands.
Win-win situation
Mix all the functions,while some of the owners
are private and some are public.
· Private:
Provide service and fund and gain consumers
· Public:
Provide consumers and gain service and fund

Image: Mixure of functions

Image: System of public space
PUBLIC - PRIVATE / POTENTIALS
 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- no continuity of public space, because of the different

OWNER 1

OWNER 2

OWNER 3

OWNER 5
OWNER 4

OWNER 6
PUBLIC

PUBLIC
private owners
- visability of the waterfront from the streets
- limited access to the waterfront
OBERE STADTSPREE - for the people, often it is not clear to see, what is

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1
PUBLIC
private and what is public
- not enough functions, to act as public space
Debut Workshop - less mixture of functions
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- not many public spaces, that could be used in every
time of the day or year

Image: Current ownership of lands

Image: Problems in the site
PUBLIC - PRIVATE / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- Government should obtain the property of all the

OWNER 1

OWNER 2

OWNER 3

OWNER 5
OWNER 4

OWNER 6
PUBLIC

PUBLIC
lands which will be transfered to public waterfront by
the means of compensation.
Aim: The public get a continuos urban space along the
OBERE STADTSPREE River Spree.

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1
PUBLIC
- Private investors should be given concessions to build
Debut Workshop some infrastuctures in the public area,from which they
25.10. – 29.10.2010
can profit.
Aim: Government can get enough financial supports
from the private investors. And the participation of
them can therefore increase the value of this area.

Some approaches to deal with the conflict between

private and public.

Governments pay for part of the property from private

owners and open it to the public.

Governments pay for the maintainance fee of private

lands,which can be shared by the public.

Governments pay for the whole property but give back

extra floor area.(e.g.Zoning in New York)
Image: Ownership-plan
Image: Solutions of the conflcts
PUBLIC - PRIVATE / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
The main question is, how it is possible to create a
continous space, with many different functions, that is
attractive and accessible for the public?
- How to deal with the problems of noise and increasing
OBERE STADTSPREE rents if we want to protect some clubs in the the
neighborhood of new high-value buildings?
-How is it possible to open parts of the private void
Debut Workshop spces for public functions?
25.10. – 29.10.2010
-How is it possible to ensure the continuity of the public
space if one of some owners refuse to do this?
- today this area is famous for its clubscene, the open
space with lots of temporary functions, do you think
“zoning in Newyork” is a useful way to incorporate
public functions into private land? eg. the private owner
can get extra floor area if he agree to provide some land
to the public.

NOTE
- Urban plan should be performed gradually with goals
step by step.
- As plan can only be performed gradually and maybe
will be realised in many years, it is essential to fill in the
space with some functions, both regular and temporary
, to avoid it becoming valid.
- It is the most important the quality of the space instead
of the size of the space.

PUBLIC - PRIVATE / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design RIVER BASED APPROACH
Laboratory Xu Xinyan, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture)
Jin Yuanyi, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture)
Lin Xiaoli, Urban Management (Urban Planning)
Poonam, Urban Management (Architecture)
Sasan Niknam, Urban Design Dual D. (Architecture) Larry Cortes, Architecture (Architecture)
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

RIVER BASED APPROACH / INTRODUCTION

 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop POTENTIALS

25.10. – 29.10.2010

I - RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ALONGSIDE THE RIVER

we believe the site has the potential of a variety of
recreational facilities alongside the river. It has already
shown that projects such as the “badeschiff” have been
successfully developed and appreciated by the people,
the “east side gallery” is an open art-space related to the
city’s history, it is one of the main tourist destinations of
berlin.
due to the empty plots existing on the site, they provide
a potential of recreational diversity, such as
- plazas
- greenery
- play and sports areas
- water activities

2. MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS

in order to create a successful urban district, we believe

that mixed-use developments are of high importance.
- residential
- commercial
- transportation

RIVER BASED APPROACH / POTENTIALS

 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- no accessability from land to water
OBERE STADTSPREE - no continuity for pedestrian walkway
- polluted water
- no defined function of the wateruses
Debut Workshop - scale: accessibility from one side to the other side is
25.10. – 29.10.2010 not convenient.

RIVER BASED APPROACH / PROBLEMS

 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory our vision to develop a mixed-use environment including

residential and commercial is not the only one we are
trying to develop, it is furthermore the connection of
OBERE STADTSPREE both riversides and its districts (friedrichshain in the
north and kreuzberg in the south).
together with the above and the fact that the distance
Debut Workshop from one bridge to the other is very large for pedestrians,
25.10. – 29.10.2010
we have thought of “culture islands” installed at existing
and/or new bridges, that could provide an open space
for a variety of uses which would be public, linked to
private uses such as bars, restaurants and cafes.

RIVER BASED APPROACH / VISIONS

 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory how much has the water been considered in the

planning procedures?
during the debate some questions have been answered
and clarified.

OBERE STADTSPREE the waterfront is attractive and mostly used in the

summer, how can it be treated in the winter?
have the season changes been taken to consideration?
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
regarding mixed-use bridges, platforms, structures and as of june 2008 it is not allowed to build any additional
activities in the water, are there any limitations regarding bridges to the site.
use, traffic and boundaries?

there is a limitation of pedestrian movement alongside
the river, by constant changes of built and non built
areas (private properties).
how can we solve this issue?
there are no regulations in the use of water, as long as
a decent space is provided for the traffic of the river.
this means platforms, walkways etc. could be added to
the waterbank. by doing this, continuous movement
alongside the spree could be realized.

RIVER BASED APPROACH / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design STAKEHOLDERS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS:


ROSAMA WATY Bach. Urban and Regional Planner (Urban Management)
SAMANA THAMASEBI Bach. Buisness Management (Urban Management)
MARIA CECILIA DE CAVALIRO RODRIGUES Bach.Social Science ( Urban Management)
ADAM ODGERS Bsd. Architecture (Urban Design Sino-Dual)
OBERE STADTSPREE
MAXIMILIAN ZELLER Bach. Architecture (Urban Design Sino-Dual)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

the Stakeholders
1 - Government - State/City/Politicians
2 - Business - Owners/Land Owners/Employers
3 - Residents - on Spree, on site, near to site
4 - Investors - local/regional/national/international
5 - Visitors - Tourists/Employees/Customers

“A person, group, or organization that

has a direct or indirect stake in an entity
because it can be affected (directly or
indirectly) by the entity.”
- business dictionary-.
Image: Caption
STAKEHOLDERS / INTRODUCTION
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory the Stakeholders the Potential Interests

OBERE STADTSPREE 1 - Government Economical

2 - Business Historical
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
3 - Residents Environmental

4 - Investors Social

5 - Visitors Cultural

Political

Emotional

Recreational

POTENTIALS
Social -The combined interests of the citizens relating
Economical -These are the interests of inhabitants to daily social life, sense of community, quality of life,
concerned with living costs as well as the and sustainable gentrification.
interests of the state for tax revenues and the
general wish for the economic prosperity of Cultural -The interest in supporting and maintaining
investors and business owners. opportunities for cultural and sub-cultural identity.

Historical -The interest in preserving both the built Political -The influence of politically-movitated entities
and unbuit historical legacy. on the inhabitants and their activities.

Environmental -The need and desire to Emotional -The fears, wishes, angers and all other
maintain a healthly and ecologically friendly lifestyle. peronsal feelings towards development.

Image: Caption Recreational -The shared interests in leisure activities.

STAKEHOLDERS/ POTENTIALS
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE the Problems…

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

…occur when various gro

ups have conflicting int
- differing perceptions of qu erests
ality, aesthetics, size, sca
- differing views on how le
the Spree should be use
- differing views on fun d
ction

PROBLEMS
Despite the various stakeholders having common
interests, differing perceptions regarding the interests
tend to create conflict.

Image: Caption
Image: Caption
Image: Caption
STAKEHOLDERS / PROBLEMS
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

QUESTIONS:

Questions (Wednesday): Questions (Thursday):

What are the needs/wants/expectations of the
Stakeholders?
Does the city consider it a viable option to simply do
nothing on the site?
Are residents willing to actively participate in the
development process?
How can the voices of the various stakeholders be
balanced and fairly considered?
How can ideas about how the area should be
developed be turned into reality?Is a clearly defined
city plan important?
1a. How does the city respond to citizens interested in
“doing nothing” on the site?
1b. How are planners responding to local
stakeholders?
2. How can we develop a “plan” with stakeholders
participating effectively while learning to trust each
other?
3. How can we channel the energy of the different
stakeholders into something creative and productive?
Example: The Highline, NYC

Image: Caption
Image: Caption
STAKEHOLDERS / QUESTIONS
 NOTES FROM THE DEBATE: -Intermediate Users – in the case of Mediapsree were
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
important but not included in the planning proces.
-It will be important for us to complete empirical -As a result, places are maintained for intermediate/
research on the stakeholders themselves. temporary users
-There is a forum that already exists called -The excitement of Berlin is due in part to its
OBERE STADTSPREE “Stadtforum” intermediate users
-Maybe a strategic plan can be developed as an -Mediaspree should control the development
alternative to a “Clearly Defined” plan -Gentrification can be positive
Debut Workshop -How can the people with the smallest voice be -Berlin lost 1 milllion inhabitats since WWII
25.10. – 29.10.2010
included? -For design project, the views and Sun movement
during the year, need to be considered.

-Utta Luther lecture: Waterfronts -Minimize/Address the conflict amongst intermediate

Most waterfronts are incomparable to Berlin because users
they are much larger, are related to a harbor, are related -the inhabitants feel dominated by private interests
to the sea, and are in former industrial areas -copy/paste of local life from one context to another is
merely reducing the culture to consumerism
Rainer Nagel: Berlin -the resistance was not about media/ecology or a sort
-Berlin hast 3.4 million inhabitants, 2.1 West, 1.3 East of “brand” it was about a lack of transparency in the
-Berlin is a capital of knowledge with 140,000 process
Students -mediaspree – not about bottom-up development, but
-There is no official Masterplan for Berlin about top-down. This results in fear and a lack of trust.
-how combine new proposals with the already-existing
10 points to successful Urban Design demands from the neighborhood.

STAKEHOLDEERS / NOTES
 Urban Research and Design SOCIAL ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Renata Goretti, Urban Management (Architect); Aline Delatte, Urban Management (Civil
engenieer) ; Simona Benedetti, Architecture (Architect); Angie Garita, PUC Chile (Architect); Zhao Xinghua, Urban
Design Dual Degree (Architect); Laura Strandt, Urban Design Dual Degree (Landscape Architect)
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Different requirements (Source: self-made)

SOCIAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION
 POTENTIALS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- Interaction of People of all generations and interests
OBERE STADTSPREE
- Interaction of Neigbourhoods in all directions

Debut Workshop - Feeling of the river

25.10. – 29.10.2010

- Green area along the west side of the wall

- Oberbaum City

- Vacant places – meeting points

- Schlesisches Tor U-Bahn Station

- Badeschiff

- The river as a meeting point

- Integrator of Neighbourhoods

- Molecule Mann

- Tourism and daily workers

- Day and night life

- Beaches (SPREE 2011)

Image: Badeschiff (Source: http://www.locr.com/photo-germany-berlin-berlin-eichenstra%C3%9Fe-4-13209803, 10 /29 /2010, 2.38pm)

Image: Molecule Man (Source: http://belegtesbro.wordpress.com/, 10 /29 /2010, 2.40pm)
SOCIAL ASPECTS / POTENTIALS
 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- No permanent activities
OBERE STADTSPREE
- No everyday activities

Debut Workshop - No access to the River Spree

25.10. – 29.10.2010
- River as a clear boundary

- Not enough possiblities to cross the river

- The backs of the buildings face the river

- Not many attractions / services

- Perspective blocked by the wall

- Neighbourhoods are independent

- Activities do not integrate people

- People do not feel connected to the river

- Security problems

- No lightening

- Citizen were not too involved to “Mediaspree in the

beginning”

Image: “Mediaspree” opposers (Source: http://www.spreeufer-fuer-alle.de/Presse/Bilder.html, 10 /29 /2010, 3.41pm)

Image: Access and bright prospects?! (Source: http://stralau.in-berlin.de/blog/2008/07/, 10 /29 /2010, 3.54pm)
SOCIAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory - Seeing and feeling the river

OBERE STADTSPREE - Easy access to the river

- Easy crossing of the river

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- Integration between both banks

- Continuous connexion for pedestrian and bike

betwenn Mitte and Treptower Park

- Encourage people to stay there (Tourists, Locals,

Workers, O2 Spectators)

- 24-hours Mixed-Uses/Activities
(sports, children entertainement, services, shops, night
life...)

Image: Accesses
Image: Potzdamer Platz, Berlin
Image: Pont des Arts, Paris
Image: Miroir d‘eau, Bordeaux
SOCIAL ASPECTS / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory Problems - Integrate the local residents previous

OBERE STADTSPREE 1) From the social perspective, how to
bring development without expelling loclas?
Debut Workshop 2) Considering the Mediaspree
25.10. – 29.10.2010
experience, what new strategies have been
developed for public participation?
Potentials
1) How much is the social part taking in
consideration with new plans in the area?
Vision
1) How to overcome the district barriers
which now exist because of the river Spree?
- Never finish the process and keep areas open for
temporary use -> Berln is exciting because of these gaps
- But also the development needs to be organized
- You need investors, too -> they bring money ..
- Berlin lost circa 1 million inhabitants since the 2nd
word war -> “Berlin is too big for Berlin” (Ulla Luther)
- Concepts should be for mixed use and there should be
left space for “try and error” (Jan Dohnke)
- Which social level we want to have? And we need to
consider old people and children!
- A completely new planning would violate the excisting
structures maybe -> Thus “it is better to develop areas
step by step” (Jan Dohnke)
- “If laws are too srtict less investors will come <-> if laws
are too loose they would destroy the urban structure.”
(Takis Sgouros)
- Development without gentrification and higher rents?
-> difficult to plan for public without public funds..
- “You can`t plan creativity” (Takis Sgouros)
- There needs to be more influence for citizens -> “More
information earlier, but also there have to be a seriously
participation of citizens.” (Jan Dohnke)
- “One or two bridges would not solve the problems...”
(Takis Sgouros)
- “It would be nice to have a new urban boulevard” (Ulla
Luther)
- Develop the surrounding neighbourhoods to develop
the center (Jan Dohnke)
- But still the sixty-four-dollar question: How to manage
the private and public needs?
- “The concept is the most important .“ (Takis Sgouros)
- Social projects? -> “Then they have to be realistic and
financially feasible.” (Takis Sgouros)

SOCIAL ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design RESEARCH TOPIC: CULTURAL ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Marco Capitanio Urban Design Dual Degree (Bachelor Architecture); Ingrid Cornejo, Urban
Management (Bachelor Architecture); Anke von der Heide, Urban Design Dual Degree (Diplom Designer);
Christopher Knappe, Master Stadt und Regionalplanung (Bachelor Stadt und Regionalplanung); Guanyu Sun,
Urban Design Dual Degree (Bachelor Architecture); Christian Valenzuela Abdala, Master Urban Planning (Master
OBERE STADTSPREE
Architecture)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Temporary Users

Natural Cultural Recorces

Business Area

Residencial Area

CULTURAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION

 INTRODUCTION A compact history:
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory The Obere Stadtspree quarter is the result of complex

historical layers: four municipalities are meeting along
the river Spree, Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg, Mitte and
OBERE STADTSPREE Treptow. Not only is the river a natural boundary but
also history split this area into East and West Berlin,
first politically and from 1961 to 1989 physical as well
Debut Workshop with the construction of the Wall.
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Recognizing the peculiarities of each quarter, its
identity and “Stimmung” seems a fundamental need
of future developments: we will now focus specifically
on the cultural aspects of the Obere Stadtspree.
We think that the already existing socio-cultural
structure is a potential and an attraction both for local
inhabitants, the tourist industry and future investors
interested in development along the Spree.
1913 - Opening of the Osthafen, the new industrial
harbor, replacing the former Urbanhaven at the
intersection with the Landwehrkanal.
In 1923 with the construction of Westhafen the
harbor lost progressively importance.
1949 - Political division between GDR and GFR, East
and West Berlin.
1961 - Construction of the Wall and physical division.
1989 - Fall of the Wall and successive German
reunification.
2000s - Projects for the “media” development along
the Spree, Mediaspree

The peculiar urban landscape that can be found is 2008 - Successful public vote against the project
partly derived from the existence of the Wall, the
former presence of the Osthafen, the East harbor of
Berlin and its historical buildings and industrial relics,
the new, only partly realized Mediaspree buildings...

From international experience we see that a mixture

of uses is a desirable aspiration: international
investors and local needs, touristic attractions and
low-profile activities, services and light-industrial
functions could result in a lively Oberespree
community.

CULTURAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION

 POTENTIALS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory 1.the sub culture movement taking place in this area

combined or a sponsor for the exiting international
globe investors such as MTV, Universial ,and hotel ,ect
OBERE STADTSPREE ...

2.The local culture and its peculiar aspects such as

Debut Workshop the gardening (schrebergarten),and the image or
25.10. – 29.10.2010
character of the neighbourhood as a result of it

3.The lifestyle and boundary atmosphere of the

neighbourhood somehow kept or frozen bythe
culture and physical fence surrounding it

CULTURAL ASPECTS / POTENTIALS

 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory It can be noted that towards the inner quarters there

is a consolidated social and cultural structure: from
a quick visit to the site we found cultural centers,
OBERE STADTSPREE communal gardens and quarter and local activities.
This has then no connection with functions on
the river banks, since they are partly developed by
Debut Workshop international companies and former industrial uses.
25.10. – 29.10.2010

On of the main attempt for a future planning would

be to “sue”, or at least to mix this to cultural worlds:
what happens when global interests represented by
multination companies meet with the local needs?

The area then has strongly characterized image,

internationally renown, for party-goers and night-life
fans. Here arises a particular contradiction: this special
atmosphere resulted from a lack of planning, or the
so-called “Zwischennutzung”, a temporary and more
or less informal use on vacant plots of land.

A book published in 2009, “Lost and Sound: Berlin,

Techno und der Easyjetset” defined the enthusiastic
international party-crew as the “Easyjetset”, flying to
Berlin, staying a weekend and flying back. What
will happen under more precise planning rules and
design attempts?

An attention towards “Zwischennutzung” seems

necessary to keep at certain grade the existing and
attractive image of the area.

CULTURAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS

 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

CULTURAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS

 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory At first, here live different kinds of people, they have

different culture and background, they also have
different jobs, therefore, their living radius mixed
OBERE STADTSPREE because of their individual activities.
Is there any possibility to transform this kind of
mixture cultural-wise?
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Here also gatherd many young people, they might
come from Paris or London, they all have a same
target, they just want to come and enjoy the bear and
underground music here. Many clubs opened and the
buildings are too shabby, and used for temporary, the
walls are full of doodles.

At the same time we are also thinking that it might be

possible to attract more investors, their actions might
promote the development of the special culture in
this area, but also they may destroy the atmosphere
in this district.

Meanwhile we should also let the owners know their

responsibilities towards the social, thus give the
inhabitants more public space in this harbour area.

-Administrative organizations should prepare a

support program which will evoluate the cultural
structure without destroying the character of the
area.

High-line New York, Puerto Madero

CULTURAL ASPECTS / VISIONS

 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory How to take profit of the existing local culture and

integrate it into the planning process? (gardening)
“Zwischennutzung” was particularly addressed by
Herr Nagel: it is a peculiarity of the city of Berlin
indeed, and as such it deserves much attention. It is
OBERE STADTSPREE needed for the Obere Stadtspree a general concept,
How economical important is the tourist industry for but not a complete and fully developed masterplan.
the area and the city? Developing such a huge area takes many decades
Debut Workshop Should this area remain attractive to the international and it makes sense to slow down the process, rather
25.10. – 29.10.2010
“Easy Jet set”? than speed it up.

A sustainability in economic terms is crucial to assure

Is it possible to create a suitable cultural mixture
between international global investors and local
peculiar aspects?
Might it be for example possible to win international
global investors as sponsors for local improvements
cultural and social wise?
the success of future developments: this is true also
for the cultural aspects, with a mixture between
established institution (e.g. museums) as well as
temporary, “underground” cultural expressions.
The constrains of time and the scale of land is
important.
The smaller a cell becomes, the better to connect
places and the better the mixture of facilities. If you
plan in too big scales it might be possible to reduce
the local situation and life. Another point was that
we need to mix night and day life in a healthy way to
create a mix of generations.

CULTURAL ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 RESEARCH TOPIC : LOCAL
GROUP MEMBERS: Sang Hyun Jeon, Urban Management, Hwon Yoon, Urban Management, Jorge Ampuero,
Master of Urban Project, Chille, (Architect), Feng Wanyao, Master Urban Design (Dual Degree ), Sun Junhua,
Master Urban Design (Dual Degree ), Yan Jia, Master Urban Design (Dual Degree ), Launay Angèle, Master
OBERE STADTSPREE
Architectur (Erasmus student).

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Caption
LOCAL / INTRODUCTION
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
POTENTIALS
• Capacity of the local people to imagine different
usages in a same place, which is a free-space,
especially depends on the time and the season.
• Shinnig places; like offices, cultural center, sport
center and the most historical sites
• The importance of the element “WATER” as natural
landscape in different climate
• Important geografical point for the city berlin and
the 4 districts (F-hains, X-berg, Mitte, Treptow-
Kopenick) who crossroad there.
Image: 24h usage of the site
The site is a succession of different usages
and functionnal sequences. It’s possible for the
multiplicity of people who are coming into the site
to create their own 24 hours senario. People could
build the link between the many free-spaces and the
monothematical places.
A 24hours usage have to be developpe in the cross of
a local and a global visions, in order to made working
the mixity and the flexibility of the site.
LOCAL / POTENTIALS
 Separation

With the reunification of Berlin, local areas around

River spree had undergone rapid changes. Especially,
Kreuzberg had emerged as a specialized cultural area
OBERE STADTSPREE for various artists, young people. Furthermore, various
people have various nationalities and various cultural
backgrounds are merged to this area. Although districts
Debut Workshop around river Spree had unified, some significant
25.10. – 29.10.2010
separations derived from river Spree itself.

• Cultural separation
• Spatial separation

Due to the various interests concerned in these areas

such as governors, urban designers, investors, land
owners and residents. However, the development is
led to the separated situation. It is the subject how to
regulate development of these areas, furthermore, it’s
the subject how to develop or how to preserve these
areas, too.

In addition, people not only low income class but high

income class are merged to this area. They made some
segregations between these two social classes. It looks
that these distinctions transfomed to differences among
facades of buildings in this area.

However, identity of local area would be made by

cultural images, spatial images and people, these
problems blur the identity of this local area.

LOCAL / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS

1.Sight Corridor
People walk alone the river could feel the activity
of other side from the well designed empty space
OBERE STADTSPREE between buildings, and vice versa. In that way, the
riverside area is becoming an atractive center as a
whole.
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

2. Multi function in local buildings

In both sides of the spree river there exist a lot of
local buidings which fade away with the time
flying. We could implant new dynamic and various
fouctions to attract different kind of people to stay
there in different time of the 24 hours.

3. Temporary buildings in empty space

There is a piece of empty space along the river
which is not well designed and fully used. The pubs
and clubs there are not known by the public, so that
locals and travellers won’t stay there in the daytime.
In our opinion, temporary using buildings can creat
diversity spaces there in order to let the place be
more public to attract people stay there in daytime
but not just pass by.
Image: Sight corridor
Image: Multi fuction in local buildings
Image: Temporary using buildings
LOCAL / VISIONS
 Question 1. Could it be that the Spree River a contradictional scale,
There are too many identities existing in the area, to little as global vision, and not enough board for the
how can you integrate them into new competitive local people? It’s in the theory possible to enlarge in
identity? some place the river in free-spaces?
Notes from the debate Well, it’s possible. But it’ s just like all the other projects,
OBERE STADTSPREE Well, firstly we have made lot of physical planning you have to be on the cross vision of local and global,
work, such as rethink about the river as well as riverside. and keep the interest of the investisor.
Especially we also focused on the participation through
Debut Workshop the entire project. Different people who come from
25.10. – 29.10.2010
different cultures got different opinions, and it seems Question 3.
that the process like integration and mixture of multi- To realistic the 24 hours program, could we put some
identities. creative studios and other functions there to attract
Yes, we would say it could be possible to mix the people in different period of time?
different culture as identities. It still needs long way to
go to make proper policies and the clear presentations Notes from the debate
to let the citizens to get to understand the process as Well, it could be possible. But creative business cannot
well as new identities. be designed. It will grow up as it will because of the
specialist. The designer cannot design it at first, and
even cannot foresee its success or not. It is one of the
Question 2. problems here. Secondly, what kind of function should
How could we keep or make the better balance be put in the area is another question and a lot of
between limited usage-buildings and free-spaces research is quite necessary. You should make an open
where people could imagine temporary and different discussion with the locals and show them the research
functions depends on the time and the seasons? and the plan. When the local public involved, they can
Notes of the debate provide their own ideas which will be very helpful for
Berlin is a geographical and political crossroad in you to find the right way.
Europe, with inverse poblem as Paris or London or
as we see, Main city as Santiago in Chile. There is too
much free-spaces for too less people. However Berlin is
cleaver, poor and sexy, people come to learn, but can’t
stay to work. In order to maintain the talent people
who could be able to enrich the city . The balance
could be keeped if people are agree to appropriate
them other place in Berlin, and new designed places.
Berlin have other free space, like Tempelhof where is a
temporary park now. What is difficult is to remember
that temporary places for people, espacially after few
year, since it is just for a limited time.

Image: first site analysis

LOCAL / QUESTIONS & NOTES
 SPATIAL ASPECTS
GROUP MEMBERS: Anthony Guadagni, Urban Management (BS Geology);
Hyun-jin Shin, Urban Design Dual Degree (Interior Architecture );
Wentao Zheng, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture);
OBERE STADTSPREE
Heng Zhang, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture);
Yassine Moustanjidi, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture);
Yuley Fernandes, Architecture;
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010 Elnur Abbasov, Administrate Management.

Spatial, Potential and Limitation

SPATIAL ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION
 POTENTIALS

OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Natural Landscape:
The Spree provides a natural landscape that
cannot be synthetically replicated. It is simultaneously
serene, powerful, historic; in a word intriguing to
Berliners and world travelers alike. It is, in itself, a greater
attraction than any existing or future development
along its banks.
The Obere StadtSpree displays several
physical attributes that make it a prime location for
redevelopment. It is the widest, straightest stretch
of the river within Berlin proper, thereby providing
unimpeded views of the city center to the west and of
the bygone era of early industrialization to the east.

Location:
The Obere StadtSpree is central to four of Berlin’s
most vibrant and densely populated neighborhoods:
Mitte to the north, Kreuzberg to the west, Friedrichshain
to the east and Treptow to the south. The population
surrounding the river is sufficient to support the influx
of business attracted by the prospect of redevelopment
and will benefit tremendously from the associated
increase in public land along and adjacent to the
waterfront. Public transportation from points east and
west is adequate to serve the as an artery to the rest of
the city.
bank provides an excellent locale for public use. A large
number of undeveloped lots remain from when the
Obere StadtSpree was an area to be avoided.
History:
The east bank of the Spree to the north of the
Ober Baumbrücke is home to the largest remaining
stretch of the Berlin Wall. The East Side Gallery is
one of Berlin’s most visited tourist attractions and will
continue to draw visitors numbering in the hundreds of
thousands annually.

Development:
The varied history of land use along the
Obere StadtSpree has provided the region with unique
prospects for redevelopment. Initially developed during
the early industrial era, the banks are lined with large
formerly industrial buildings and warehouses that can
be modernized while still maintaining a semblance of
regional identity.
As the Obere StadtSpree lies in the shadow of
the wall, the former ‘no man’s land’ along the east
Image: Undeveloped Property
SPATIAL ASPECTS / POTENTIALS
 PROBLEMS

Accessibility:
The largest problem facing the development of
the Obere StadtSpree is the limited waterfront access.
OBERE STADTSPREE In its current configuration, the Spree is the region’s
singular draw; however, the large, privately held
blocks provide little in the way of a physical or visual
Debut Workshop connection to the water. In short, it is quite likely that
25.10. – 29.10.2010
a visitor unfamiliar with the local geography could pass
within a block of the Spree without being aware of its
proximity.
Physical access is limited by a number of man-
made features that impede access from all directions.
Access from the north is cut-off by the Wall and the
above ground train tracks stretching from Warschauer
Straβe to Ostbahnhof; the south bank is limited by
privately held properties developed directly on the
water front.
In the few areas where water front access is
possible, the Spree is uninviting. The river is lined by
vertical concrete flood banks extending approximately
one and one-half meters above mean water level. The
flood banks do serve an important function, but act as
barrier to those seeking recreation along the river and
pose a safety hazard.

Fragmentation:
The Obere StadtSpree suffers from a lack of
connectivity between its north and south banks. Four
bridges span the Spree In the 3.7 kilometers between
Jannowitzbrücke and Elsenbrücke. While these
adequately serve vehicular traffic, pedestrians are
unlikely to walk the long distances required to cross
the river. The result is residential populace relegated
to their side of the river and isolated from whatever
benefit lies on the other.

Image: restricted access

SPATIAL ASPECTS / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS

Increased Access:
The region would benefit tremendously from
increased public and semi-public access. A water front
OBERE STADTSPREE esplanade running the length of the Obere StadtSpree
would provide a recreational area that would serve a
large number of residents. Additionally, a waterfront
Debut Workshop esplanade would create easier pedestrian access to the
25.10. – 29.10.2010
business and residences within several blocks of the
Spree.
Physical and visual connection could perhaps
be best provided by the implementation of standardized
building codes mandating the subdivision of large lots
into smaller parcels and requiring a minimum setback
from the water to provide sufficient land for public use.

Common Identity:
The Obere StadtSpree should have a singular
identity defined by the water, rather then merely be
the border between other neighborhoods. The identity
should spread to the areas around the river and can be
facilitated by increased physical and visual access to the
water.
In the areas where conventional physical and visual
connectivity with the river is not possible, alternative
methods should be taken to remind visitors of their
proximity to the water. Architecture should be vaguely
reminiscent of water; walkways should meander rather
than run in straight lines; artwork should be aquatic
without being obtuse.

Image: Sketches depicting reclaimation of waterfront
Urban Destination:
The Obere StadtSpree will become an urban
destination. Weary urbanites will have a tranquil refuge
to enjoy at weeks end; busy business people will have
the fine dining with an international ambiance; young
folks can enjoy the vibrant nightlife. The final results
will be a varied landscape that is attractive 24-hours per
day in all seasons.
SPATIAL ASPECTS / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS
• What is an appropriate balance between new
development with modern amenities and maintenance
of historical structures?
OBERE STADTSPREE
• How can urban planners ad designers meld
the interests of private property owner with the overall
Debut Workshop benefit to the city?
25.10. – 29.10.2010
• Is the current transportation infrastructure
running north-south along the Spree adequate
to support the increased traffic associated with
redevelopment?
• How will the water itself be utilized as a multi-
use area?
NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
• Proposed setback from the river for new
development is 10m
• Development of a waterfront promenade is
considered of high importance
• The goal is not to develop all open plots
simultaneously; gaps in the urban fabric create the
feeling of an exciting, dynamic city
• Focus on social and economical sustainability
• Landscape design of public spaces should
facilitate year-round usage
• Development over the water itself cannot
interfere with aquatic traffic; no other restrictions exist
on development within the waerway
SPATIAL ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES
 Urban Research and Design ECONOMIC ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Ulrich Pappenberger, Urban Design (B.Sc. Urban and Regional Planning); Sebastian Roßius,
Urban Design Dual Degree (B.Sc. Urban Planning); Emilio Berrios, Urban Management (Diploma Architecture);
Edwin Linderkamp, Urban Management (B.A. Business Management Economics); Jose Reyes, Guest Student
OBERE STADTSPREE
(Diploma Economist)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Scale of Plots

ECONOMIC ASPECTS / INTRODUCTION
 POTENTIALS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
As a potential we can recognize these issues:

- Under used space: considering Berlin’s special situation,

in the area are several different empty spaces that could
OBERE STADTSPREE potentially be used. Even though most of the land was
sold, the construction phase has not been developed,
so it’s a potential area for land usage.
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- Uninhabited waterfront: most of the river’s border can
be used for housing, which means, from a physical point
of view that the change process is easier to resolve and
public space could be considered or developed in this
area.

- Comparable cheap land: in comparison with others

big cities and their waterfronts in Europe, this land is
inexpensive, as well as the interior parts of the city.
- Three different potential areas to develop:

- Northwest: big empty plots without a waterfront

- Southwest: fragmented area with medium sized
plots and partially occupied by old big buildings and
factories. There is a direct waterfront.
- Northeast: medium plot area, directly along the
waterfront.

- Increasing rent and land prices: good for owner

investors and to activate the development process.

- Local economic activities: several different local

economic activities exist in the neighborhoods, which
could be used to develop the area, such as: restaurants,
cafes, bars, clubs, fashion designers, little shops,
tourism, etc.

Image 1: Potential Areas

Image 2: Under-used space
Image 3: Local economic activities
ECONOMIC ASPECTS / POTENTIALS

Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Image 1: “Spreeufer versenken!”
Image 2: Demonstrations
PROBLEMS
From an economic point of view the main problem is
the peoples resistance to the development of an urban
project in the area. The inhabitants were able to stop
the “Mediaspree” investment and that caused the
reluctance from the investor’s side. Currently there is
no certainty about the ongoing developments in the
area, so investors are trying to avoid any risk, and will
not invest anymore money there.
Another problem is the fragmentation of the land
ownership. There is not only one owner, instead there
are many of them. So in the case of developing a large
urban complex the investors would have to negotiate
with a lot of people. This may not only be problematic
for the investors, also for the local authorities in the
case of trying to provide certain infrastructure or trying
to delineate integrated urban space. On top of this issue
is the problem caused by the price speculation from the
owners side. It seems plausible that the dis coordinated
actions of all of them developed an overpriced situation,
which inhibits the development of the projects in the
area.
Also, currently there appears to be a phenomenon of
excess supply of office rooms. The demand for them
appears to be lower than expected in the case of the
Postdamer Platz. The supply of offices is a central
aspect of most large urban developments. This situation
seems to decrease the attractiveness of the site for the
investors.
Finally the area is divided in a non-integrated way since
there is no bridge across the river between the Elsen
and Jannowitz bridges. These bridges separate the area
in a vast manner which inhibits the development of
cohesionated urban designs. The consequence of this
is that the attractiveness of the site is reduced for the
people and the value for the investors is decreased.
ECONOMIC ASPECTS / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
Related to the problems and potentials some of the
solutions that could be considered are:

- Starting with “key projects” to involve the community

OBERE STADTSPREE to gain trust. To restart the process with projects related
to public space, to provide trust for the community and
to get their support.
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- Local based economics: local economic activities might
be considered in the development as a way to provide
local identity and gain community acceptance.

- Temporary uses: such as expositions or public

activities could be developed in empty areas for the
investors to build, but also to leave free public space to
do these activities that are valuable for Berlin and the
community.

- Public participation: considering the “Mediaspree”

experience, public opinion must be considered at the
beginning as a part of the design process. One option
could be to establish focus groups with representative
people from the community, to consider their desires
and expectations for the area.

- Increase the transportation connections of the area:

provide more connections between the river’s borders
and to develop the public transportation system.

- Development of compensation strategies in public

space in the area: synchronize the investor’s interests
with compensation funds for public space.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS / VISIONS

 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
1- Which markets would be most attractive for the 1- It is necessary to consider the following activities:
area? entertainment, business, culture and shopping. These
activities must be considered from two different scales,
2- How will you offer support to investors due to the the global and local scale. By considering big investors
OBERE STADTSPREE inhabitants resistance? and local economic activities, it is very important to
support these local activities. Also it is necessary to
2- Do you have any compensation strategies for consider housing to create or increase markets for these
Debut Workshop reimbursing inhabitants? activities and to bring life to the public space.
25.10. – 29.10.2010

2- How could key projects combine public participants,
small scale entrepreneurs and investors?
3- How will you synchronize the timing between
investors and public participants?
This issue is related to the size of a plot. Big investors are
more interested in big plots to control the development,
while local or minor investors are interested more in
small ones, because they don’t have the financial means
for big ones.

2- The investors are cautious because of the

“Mediaspree” experience, even though most of the land
was sold. A good option will be to develop and build the
infrastructure and public space in the beginning. This
helps provide a proof of interest to the government for
developing the area and to define the scenery for private
development. At the same time you will ensure that the
community will obtain new valuable public space.

3- There must be discussions with the community before

investors arrive. The process must be transparent and
accessible in every step of the planned development.
It is the government or local authority’s task to prepare
the contents for the community participation, so that
the investment process will match with the community
interests.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: (Felipe Rojas, Architecture students (Arts), Johannes Rentsch, Urban Design Master
(Landscape Architecture),Erastus Mutuku, Urban Managment (Urban & Regional Planning), Deborah Nickles,
Urban Design Researchpaper (Architecture), Cécile Oberkampf, Architecture Master; Julita Skodra, Urban
OBERE STADTSPREE
Managment (Architecture)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

ECOLOGICAL / INTRODUCTION

Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
POTENTIALS
The site has a very important ecological potential.
• Air : river corridor is a fresh air entrance.
• Wind : a lot of wind = wind energy potential.
• Sun : sun exposed area = solar energy potential.
• Water : cooling down and purify the air, water
stream (strength) = hydraulic energy production,
transportation, nature feeling, connection between
the city center and the hinterland.
• Nature in the center of the city : the chance to feel
the nature in the center of a metropolis.
• Open Space in the Center of the City, particularly in
Berlin : Berliners have developed since a long time
a culture of open spaces, with temporary uses,
enjoying parks and empty spaces when they can.
high sun exposure
medium sun exposure
map of solar potentials
low sun exposure
ECOLOGICAL / POTENTIALS

Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
PROBLEMS
• Noise pollution : the railway and also the road
parallel to the East Side Gallery.
• Soil pollution : industries were occupying the site
for a long time.
• Air pollution : big road and adjacent industries still
occupy the neighborhood.
• Water pollution : big road, former industries and
actual, ship transports...
• Lack of green spaces : Friedrichshain has no big
open space area
• Disconnection of green spaces : river, transport
system and high density of buildings are problems
for the biodiversity of the city.
ECOLOGICAL / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
• Purification of the water : an ecological purification
central could be an available project in economical
terms but also in an ecological goal.
• Ecological leisure : a recreation park, some places
OBERE STADTSPREE to enjoy swimming in river’s water, develop the
bridges for low-sustainable transportations...
• Energy production : use the natural potentials in an
Debut Workshop ecological way to produce energy (wind turbines,
25.10. – 29.10.2010
hydraulic electricity central)
• Natural Riverbanks or sustainable floating housings
• Develop biologic food production by community
gardenings.
• Think the buildings time in an ecological way : use
of the empty places, ecological way to manage the
construction of a building.

ECOLOGICAL / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS
Urban Research and Design
Laboratory
• The River Spree as a linear corridor that connects
Berlin City Center with its natural Hinterland offers a
lot of important ecological potentials, for example,
the transport of fresh air into the city, as well as
OBERE STADTSPREE the opportunity for the inhabitants to experience
the typical river landscape of the region. Do you
consider that aspect? And what is your approach or
Debut Workshop vision?
25.10. – 29.10.2010
• The ecological new identity of a urban project (it
could be) couldn’t be the solution to solve the
conflicts between the stakeholders?
• In the foregoing process of globalization, cities are
searching for a strong identity that makes them
unique and attractive. The Mediaspree Project was
mean to create to create such a differential, but
it failed. We think that the ecological potential of
this area could be an opportunity for a more radical
urban project focussing on sustainability and eco-
efficiency to give a new positive identity to the area
and the city. Do you consider that aspect and what
is your approach or vision?
• Do the sheet pile wall play a technical role for the
river banks at this point of the Spree river?
NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
To ensure the fresh air transport to the city center, it’s
important to avoid barriers (massive bridges, too much
construction on the Spree) in the river corridor.
One of the main points we noticed during the debate
is to consider very seriously the time dimension in
planning. That’s why the master plan has to stay
flexible, so it could be changed but the concept could
be preserved. Related to that it’s really important to
think about a planning in phases because of the scale of
a urban project and so the time it needs to be realized.
For ecological aspects, it’s recommended to have a look
at the waterfront plan.
Berlin is an amphibious city that means the ground
water level is located at only -2 m.
Berlin is a knowledge city with a high level universities
but also the city loses its students because of the lack
of works and have no opportunities to apply their
learnings. An ambitious project for sustainable energy
development could be a way for them to apply some
researches on a real site and also bring investors of this
sector.
In a really precise way, the straight part of the Spree
between Elsenbrücke and Jannowitzbrücke is used
by ships that produce waves which affect and destroy
natural river bank.
IMPORTANT KEYS TO THINK ABOUT...
Who owns the city?
Berlin is too big for Berlin.
ECOLOGICAL / QUESTIONS & NOTES
 Urban Research and Design PUBLIC - PRIVATE
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS: Marcus Jeutner, Urban Design (B.sc. Urban and Regionalplanning); Seyedeh Hoda Nabavi,
Urban Management (B.sc. Urban Planning & Design); Qiao Qi, Urban Design Dual Degree (B.a. Architecture); Wang
Jing, Urban Design Dual Degree (B.a. Architecture); Tang Jieqiong, Urban Design Dual Degree (B.a. Architecture)
OBERE STADTSPREE
“Public” ——available without need to pay
“private” ——availale only with payment
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

Image: Access denied

PUBLIC - PRIVATE / INTRODUCTION
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
POTENTIALS
- Continuos waterfront space
- Mixed functions to support the space

OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
Based on the different current situations on two sides
along the River Spree, we creat a system, which optimizes
the potentials as well as maintaining its identity.
· The Northern side:
String the existing waterfront open space fragments to
creat a continuos experience along the river.
·The Southern side:
Open up the existing void lands next to the river , and
provide some indications leading people to these lands.
Win-win situation
Mix all the functions,while some of the owners
are private and some are public.
· Private:
Provide service and fund and gain consumers
· Public:
Provide consumers and gain service and fund

Image: Mixure of functions

Image: System of public space
PUBLIC - PRIVATE / POTENTIALS
 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- no continuity of public space, because of the different

OWNER 1

OWNER 2

OWNER 3

OWNER 5
OWNER 4

OWNER 6
PUBLIC

PUBLIC
private owners
- visability of the waterfront from the streets
- limited access to the waterfront
OBERE STADTSPREE - for the people, often it is not clear to see, what is

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1
PUBLIC
private and what is public
- not enough functions, to act as public space
Debut Workshop - less mixture of functions
25.10. – 29.10.2010
- not many public spaces, that could be used in every
time of the day or year

Image: Current ownership of lands

Image: Problems in the site
PUBLIC - PRIVATE / PROBLEMS
 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- Government should obtain the property of all the

OWNER 1

OWNER 2

OWNER 3

OWNER 5
OWNER 4

OWNER 6
PUBLIC

PUBLIC
lands which will be transfered to public waterfront by
the means of compensation.
Aim: The public get a continuos urban space along the
OBERE STADTSPREE River Spree.

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1

OWNER 1
PUBLIC
- Private investors should be given concessions to build
Debut Workshop some infrastuctures in the public area,from which they
25.10. – 29.10.2010
can profit.
Aim: Government can get enough financial supports
from the private investors. And the participation of
them can therefore increase the value of this area.

Some approaches to deal with the conflict between

private and public.

Governments pay for part of the property from private

owners and open it to the public.

Governments pay for the maintainance fee of private

lands,which can be shared by the public.

Governments pay for the whole property but give back

extra floor area.(e.g.Zoning in New York)
Image: Ownership-plan
Image: Solutions of the conflcts
PUBLIC - PRIVATE / VISIONS
 QUESTIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
The main question is, how it is possible to create a
continous space, with many different functions, that is
attractive and accessible for the public?
- How to deal with the problems of noise and increasing
OBERE STADTSPREE rents if we want to protect some clubs in the the
neighborhood of new high-value buildings?
-How is it possible to open parts of the private void
Debut Workshop spces for public functions?
25.10. – 29.10.2010
-How is it possible to ensure the continuity of the public
space if one of some owners refuse to do this?
- today this area is famous for its clubscene, the open
space with lots of temporary functions, do you think
“zoning in Newyork” is a useful way to incorporate
public functions into private land? eg. the private owner
can get extra floor area if he agree to provide some land
to the public.

NOTE
- Urban plan should be performed gradually with goals
step by step.
- As plan can only be performed gradually and maybe
will be realised in many years, it is essential to fill in the
space with some functions, both regular and temporary
, to avoid it becoming valid.
- It is the most important the quality of the space instead
of the size of the space.

PUBLIC - PRIVATE / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design RIVER BASED APPROACH
Laboratory Xu Xinyan, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture)
Jin Yuanyi, Urban Design Dual Degree (Architecture)
Lin Xiaoli, Urban Management (Urban Planning)
Poonam, Urban Management (Architecture)
Sasan Niknam, Urban Design Dual D. (Architecture) Larry Cortes, Architecture (Architecture)
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

RIVER BASED APPROACH / INTRODUCTION

 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop POTENTIALS

25.10. – 29.10.2010

I - RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ALONGSIDE THE RIVER

we believe the site has the potential of a variety of
recreational facilities alongside the river. It has already
shown that projects such as the “badeschiff” have been
successfully developed and appreciated by the people,
the “east side gallery” is an open art-space related to the
city’s history, it is one of the main tourist destinations of
berlin.
due to the empty plots existing on the site, they provide
a potential of recreational diversity, such as
- plazas
- greenery
- play and sports areas
- water activities

2. MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS

in order to create a successful urban district, we believe

that mixed-use developments are of high importance.
- residential
- commercial
- transportation

RIVER BASED APPROACH / POTENTIALS

 PROBLEMS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
- no accessability from land to water
OBERE STADTSPREE - no continuity for pedestrian walkway
- polluted water
- no defined function of the wateruses
Debut Workshop - scale: accessibility from one side to the other side is
25.10. – 29.10.2010 not convenient.

RIVER BASED APPROACH / PROBLEMS

 VISIONS
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory our vision to develop a mixed-use environment including

residential and commercial is not the only one we are
trying to develop, it is furthermore the connection of
OBERE STADTSPREE both riversides and its districts (friedrichshain in the
north and kreuzberg in the south).
together with the above and the fact that the distance
Debut Workshop from one bridge to the other is very large for pedestrians,
25.10. – 29.10.2010
we have thought of “culture islands” installed at existing
and/or new bridges, that could provide an open space
for a variety of uses which would be public, linked to
private uses such as bars, restaurants and cafes.

RIVER BASED APPROACH / VISIONS

 QUESTIONS NOTES FROM THE DEBATE
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory how much has the water been considered in the

planning procedures?
during the debate some questions have been answered
and clarified.

OBERE STADTSPREE the waterfront is attractive and mostly used in the

summer, how can it be treated in the winter?
have the season changes been taken to consideration?
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
regarding mixed-use bridges, platforms, structures and as of june 2008 it is not allowed to build any additional
activities in the water, are there any limitations regarding bridges to the site.
use, traffic and boundaries?

there is a limitation of pedestrian movement alongside
the river, by constant changes of built and non built
areas (private properties).
how can we solve this issue?
there are no regulations in the use of water, as long as
a decent space is provided for the traffic of the river.
this means platforms, walkways etc. could be added to
the waterbank. by doing this, continuous movement
alongside the spree could be realized.

RIVER BASED APPROACH / QUESTIONS & NOTES

 Urban Research and Design STAKEHOLDERS
Laboratory GROUP MEMBERS:


ROSAMA WATY Bach. Urban and Regional Planner (Urban Management)
SAMANA THAMASEBI Bach. Buisness Management (Urban Management)
MARIA CECILIA DE CAVALIRO RODRIGUES Bach.Social Science ( Urban Management)
ADAM ODGERS Bsd. Architecture (Urban Design Sino-Dual)
OBERE STADTSPREE
MAXIMILIAN ZELLER Bach. Architecture (Urban Design Sino-Dual)

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

the Stakeholders
1 - Government - State/City/Politicians
2 - Business - Owners/Land Owners/Employers
3 - Residents - on Spree, on site, near to site
4 - Investors - local/regional/national/international
5 - Visitors - Tourists/Employees/Customers

“A person, group, or organization that

has a direct or indirect stake in an entity
because it can be affected (directly or
indirectly) by the entity.”
- business dictionary-.
Image: Caption
STAKEHOLDERS / INTRODUCTION
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory the Stakeholders the Potential Interests

OBERE STADTSPREE 1 - Government Economical

2 - Business Historical
Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010
3 - Residents Environmental

4 - Investors Social

5 - Visitors Cultural

Political

Emotional

Recreational

POTENTIALS
Social -The combined interests of the citizens relating
Economical -These are the interests of inhabitants to daily social life, sense of community, quality of life,
concerned with living costs as well as the and sustainable gentrification.
interests of the state for tax revenues and the
general wish for the economic prosperity of Cultural -The interest in supporting and maintaining
investors and business owners. opportunities for cultural and sub-cultural identity.

Historical -The interest in preserving both the built Political -The influence of politically-movitated entities
and unbuit historical legacy. on the inhabitants and their activities.

Environmental -The need and desire to Emotional -The fears, wishes, angers and all other
maintain a healthly and ecologically friendly lifestyle. peronsal feelings towards development.

Image: Caption Recreational -The shared interests in leisure activities.

STAKEHOLDERS/ POTENTIALS
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE the Problems…

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

…occur when various gro

ups have conflicting int
- differing perceptions of qu erests
ality, aesthetics, size, sca
- differing views on how le
the Spree should be use
- differing views on fun d
ction

PROBLEMS
Despite the various stakeholders having common
interests, differing perceptions regarding the interests
tend to create conflict.

Image: Caption
Image: Caption
Image: Caption
STAKEHOLDERS / PROBLEMS
 Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
OBERE STADTSPREE

Debut Workshop
25.10. – 29.10.2010

QUESTIONS:

Questions (Wednesday): Questions (Thursday):

What are the needs/wants/expectations of the
Stakeholders?
Does the city consider it a viable option to simply do
nothing on the site?
Are residents willing to actively participate in the
development process?
How can the voices of the various stakeholders be
balanced and fairly considered?
How can ideas about how the area should be
developed be turned into reality?Is a clearly defined
city plan important?
1a. How does the city respond to citizens interested in
“doing nothing” on the site?
1b. How are planners responding to local
stakeholders?
2. How can we develop a “plan” with stakeholders
participating effectively while learning to trust each
other?
3. How can we channel the energy of the different
stakeholders into something creative and productive?
Example: The Highline, NYC

Image: Caption
Image: Caption
STAKEHOLDERS / QUESTIONS
 NOTES FROM THE DEBATE: -Intermediate Users – in the case of Mediapsree were
Urban Research and Design

Laboratory
important but not included in the planning proces.
-It will be important for us to complete empirical -As a result, places are maintained for intermediate/
research on the stakeholders themselves. temporary users
-There is a forum that already exists called -The excitement of Berlin is due in part to its
OBERE STADTSPREE “Stadtforum” intermediate users
-Maybe a strategic plan can be developed as an -Mediaspree should control the development
alternative to a “Clearly Defined” plan -Gentrification can be positive
Debut Workshop -How can the people with the smallest voice be -Berlin lost 1 milllion inhabitats since WWII
25.10. – 29.10.2010
included? -For design project, the views and Sun movement
during the year, need to be considered.

-Utta Luther lecture: Waterfronts -Minimize/Address the conflict amongst intermediate

Most waterfronts are incomparable to Berlin because users
they are much larger, are related to a harbor, are related -the inhabitants feel dominated by private interests
to the sea, and are in former industrial areas -copy/paste of local life from one context to another is
merely reducing the culture to consumerism
Rainer Nagel: Berlin -the resistance was not about media/ecology or a sort
-Berlin hast 3.4 million inhabitants, 2.1 West, 1.3 East of “brand” it was about a lack of transparency in the
-Berlin is a capital of knowledge with 140,000 process
Students -mediaspree – not about bottom-up development, but
-There is no official Masterplan for Berlin about top-down. This results in fear and a lack of trust.
-how combine new proposals with the already-existing
10 points to successful Urban Design demands from the neighborhood.

STAKEHOLDEERS / NOTES