Out in the woods, residential structures are scarcely visible.
By Hildy Hooligan
After narrowing down submissions from an impressive 164 design ideas, only six brainstorms remain for the future of Tempelhof's former airport land. From parks to apartments, the competition's unexpected twists have got folks talking. Berlin's Urban Development Senator Christian Gaebler (60, SPD) reckons it's time to challenge the black-and-white rhetoric and find a peaceful solution. No decision's final yet, but come September, the public gets to vote on their favorite picks at a city exhibition.
What's cookin' for Tempelhofer Field now?
The Grove Life:
Landscape god Timor Herrmann (53) aspires to create a 21st-century playground with 2500 hardy trees grouped into three zones. He's aimin' for a true-blue fauna paradise, inviting critters like hedgehogs, great-spotted woodpeckers, and bats to join the party.
Another Berlin greenskeeper, Franz Reschkle (42), plans five distinct tree groves with unique purposes. His lush vision will leave plenty of room for breezy air circulation.
Livin' large:
The Danish firm "Schönherr" dreams of a phased approach. First, they want to take down the fences, plant trees, and build eco-friendly row houses on the Tempelhofer Damm, even along the T-dam and southern motorway as noise buffers.
Now, the dream team from Cologne and Rotterdam ("De Zwarte Hand") envisions a brand-new S-Bahn station, development of the former nursery, plus a sun-soaked terrace towards Hasenheide—all while pushin' for more apartments on the Tempelhofer Damm.
And that's not all! A proposal hailing from Cali suggests transforming every building on the site, potentially repurposing the incinerator into a seed bank for the flower meadow.
Now, Senator Gaebler ain't so hot on the idea of tearin' down the fences. While it might look cool, he sees it as a potential magnet for vandalism. "Let's not turn Tempelhofer Field into a lost and forgotten place," he says.
Stay tuned for more happenings with Tempelhofer Field, as Berlin deliberates how to marry urban development with a nature-loving attitude. The park's fate is in the hands of the people, so get ready to make your voice heard!
- Amidst the plans for Tempelhofer Field, environmental science enthusiast Timor Herrmann aims to develop a 21st-century playground, integrating the principles of climate-change mitigation by establishing a fauna paradise.
- In a different proposal, Franz Reschkle, another environmentalist, envisions a series of tree groves that cater to diverse purposes, promoting a lifestyle of sustainable resource utilization in harmony with the environment.
- The Danish firm Schönherr focuses on integrating residential developments in the landscape by building eco-friendly row houses, demonstrating how fashion-and-beauty conscious dwellings can coexist with home-and-garden projects like gardens and nurseries.
- The future of Tempelhofer Field lies in the balance between urban development and the preservation of the environment, as demonstrated by the variety of plans presented, demonstrating the importance of environmental-science in shaping the city's lifestyle and living spaces.
