Main message: A new balance of traffic for a forward-looking design of the model district Bundesplatz
Vision2030+ for Bundesallee and Bundesplatz – hub of sustainable development. © Polinna Hauck Landscape + Urbanism; studio amore (Jank/Harmel/Burke), 2016
As one of two scientific partners of the district office Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in Berlin, the C.E.U.D. accompanied the project “Future Metropolis Berlin: Mobility plus Urbanity | Bundesallee and Bundesplatz – hub of sustainable development” (duration: 01.07.2015 – 31.053.2016). The results of the 1st phase, Vision2030+, are now available as documentation: Vision 2030+ for a model district Bundesplatz.
“The aim of the project “Paradise Bundesplatz” is a city square of the future that successfully mediates between a livable district and an important urban traffic hub in a model-like manner. The most important key to such a new urban balance is a different distribution of space – in favor of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. This opens up new scope for private activities – for commercial activities, especially in the ground floor zones of the square, for entrepreneurial activities under the highway, for central functions such as the weekly market and other markets. The attractive redesign of the spaces must go hand in hand with their redistribution.
Paradise Bundesplatz 2030+ – Documentation of the 1st phase of the Zukunfststadt competition. ©Polinna Hauck Landscape + Urbanism; studio amore (Jank/Harmel/Burke), 2016
Given the inner-city location and traffic significance of the square, special attention must be paid to promoting cycling. In light of discussions with administration, politics, and citizens, we see this as an important lever to transform Bundesplatz into a sustainable district, increase resource efficiency, contribute to the change in transportation, and significantly improve the quality of stay and life. Promoting cycling is not seen as an end in itself, but as a vehicle to make the district as a whole more livable and promote the conditions for sustainable, post-fossil mobility. Granting the highest priority to cycling in the district should not lead to the square being single-mindedly geared towards this mode of transportation, but should simultaneously improve pedestrian-friendliness and optimize intermodality with public transportation. In general, users should be convinced by an excellent sustainable transportation concept that it makes sense to do without cars and that using public space differently than through car traffic increases quality of life.
“The central objectives for forward-looking design of the model district Bundesplatz have been specified and underpinned with measures for the focus areas of district, Bundesallee, and Bundesplatz.” (Core message of the documentation, p.12)
The project, funded by the district office Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (represented by the district councilor for urban development and public order, Marc Schulte), is a cooperation between the Council for European Urbanism Germany e.V., the Center for Metropolitan Studies at the Technical University of Berlin, and the Initiative Bundesplatz e.V. Polinna Hauck Landscape + Urbanism and studio amore (Jank/Harmel/Burke) were also commissioned to conceive and implement the event formats.
