Route 7 – BERLIN XX XL
Lena Diete, Destina Ergin, Thierry Nolmans, Johanna Schacht, Anastasia Soshnikova
The overarching theme of this tender are the various scales of infrastructure projects and their influence on local communities and the urban environment. Furthermore, the project faces other major global issues that are important for the planning processes such as climate change, ongoing migration into cities and loss of natural resources among others.
Bridging Islands follows the route of the future Dresdner Bahn and today’s S Bahn Line 2.
The first site is the Airport City and Schönefeld which demonstrate a complex relationship. Resistance against the BER airport are being voiced by affected citizens.
The second site is Lichtenrade with its seemingly quiet neighborhoods rapidly changing in appearance and internal configuration due to the development of local housing, upgrading of existing facilities and the building of Dresdner Bahn. The Dresdner Bahn will increase the current frequencies with trains running at higher speeds in contrast to the previous low speed of the S Bahn line 2 with its street level crossings and is a significant factor to noise pollution.
The last site is Schöneberger Linse which today is characterized by housing, commercial and technological facilities, green spaces and significant infrastructure. Schöneberger Linse is to be developed into an urban multi-purpose urban district. Most of the buildings are developed by private investors and companies leaving only little room for social housing and alternative housing forms.
The macro analysis focuses on the plethora of typologies along the route. To name a few, there are Wilhelminian block-edge houses within the S Bahn ring, industrial estates, single family houses, 60s housing complexes and macro- structures for passenger cargo around the airport area. The second focal point of the analysis is the island effect. In this tender the island effect is used to describe large infrastructure elements that leave a segregating effect in the urban rural fabric.
The planning goals for the Airport city and Schöneberg include connecting Schönefeld with its surrounding, connecting the old with the new airport town and creating a multifunctional complex with sustainability and future oriented values as central characteristics.
As for Lichtenrade, the area could be densified, commercial facilities for local needs and quality green spaces are to be introduced and the two halves separated by the Dresdner Bahn are to be connected.
Lastly the Schöneberger Linse obtains livability, multifunctional connections, environmental justice and quality spaces for bicycles and pedestrians.