ARCHITECTURE / Universität der Künste Berlin

WS 2017/18, Prof. Jean-Philippe Vassal, Seminar Entwerfen und Stadterneuerung mit Lucía Gauchat Schulte und Sarah Scherzer

The neighborhood „Leipziger Tor“ is located at the eastern tip oh Hellersdorf, bordering on Brandenburg. It represents an interface between city and countryside. While in the north a beautiful wild landscape adjoins the area, offering a great view into the vastness, in the south-east a fabric of small family housing is located. By working with the area „Leipziger Tor“ two questions guided our research and project:

how can the quality of living in the area be improved and where can it be densified? The strategy is to create a very high density at one price spot: next to the last of the U5 station „Hönow“ an old vacant administration building ­exists that we reuse ans extend to create new housing, and at the same time set up a new landmark at the border of Berlin and Brandenburg. This allows us to preserve all the green surfaces of the living quality in the area. By reprogramming the courtyards ans public spaces the responsibility for the outdoor spaces is changed, opening up new perspectives for appropriation of before anonymous ­spaces. In contrast to the existing situation each courtyard contains a specific program which can enhance more ­public movement inside the area as well as increase the communication between the residents.