Information
Tempelhofer Feld, Berlin
 Germany
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| Web | http://www.tempelhoferfreiheit.de/ |
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CREATE: Illustrate the local context, the problem which the project wants to identify, the starting -up date and stages of the project (founders and origin of the collective). Edit
The Berlin Templehof airport closed down on the 31st October 2006 after functioning for 86 years as it was rendered obsolete by the Schônefeld airport. The issue was then to decide what to do with the 386 hectare space so close to the city centre. It is currently one of the largest urbanism projects ! From 2007, debates about the future of the site started. The way the project was carried out now shows a fine example of a large scale collective reflexion.
GOALS: What is the main purpose of the project? What are its most important activities/achievements? Who are the expected beneficiaries, both direct and indirect? Edit
The objective of public bodies was to redevelop the airport area whilst taking into account the desires of the inhabitants of Berlin. This is why a top down participative process was launched. The city of Berlin ( helped by two agencies : Tempelhof Projekte and Grün Berlin Gmbh ) organised a large consultation : information office, website, forum, meetings, questionnaires, consultations of a sample group, exhibitions, etc...
In addition, various activist groups and residents had clear proposals for the future of the site (creation of an urban agriculture area, environment friendly houses, art expression area, training centre, collective garden, sport, sport area). The city launched a request for proposals. The best proposals of the Pioneers had the chance to be implemented on the site for a probation period of time (allotments, artistic mini-golf, open air conference site, rental service for 2 wheeled vehicles and segways, etc...)
IMPACTS: What result/impact will the project have (identify both positive and negative aspects of the project: jobs, social cohesion, environment, economy, etc…)? What added value gives your project to the territory? Edit
Currently, the former airport site is still searching for its future. 4 years after it closed down, a team of urban planners and landscape gardeners have been recruited. A draft project was selected. The site has been opened to the public from 2010 and everyday 10 000 persons go there out of curiosity or to jog, to cycle, to practice sports, to do some gardening, to practice arts, to go for a walk, etc... The Berliners have already well taken over it! The collective process has enabled the project to effectively meet the needs of its citizens. The team made up of urban planners and landscape gardeners was asked to modify their proposal according to the outcome of the public dialogue.
Some of the Pioneer groups did not manage to implement their proposal for a long period of time but it nevertheless allowed them to raise awareness of the site. Other proposals have become stable (including from an economic point of view) and should be able to remain on the site on a long term.
COLLECTIVE: How will this project be an example of collective management? Why did you choose this collective management approach? Edit
As the project stretches over 386 hectares, it would be an illusion to believe that it is it possible to define collectively all the urban directions on a short, medium and long term. But even if the whole project was not collective, the process was nevertheless innovative. The top down process of the project has allowed most of the citizens to express their expectations for the future of the site. The bottom up side of it has enabled some people to experience activities.
OPERATION: What is the role played by each individual within the group? Describe precisely the decision-making process implemented within/in the collective. Have these processes changed over time? Edit
There is indeed no unique decision making process that would enable to merge all the points of view at the same time. The reality is that there has been numerous exchanges and information flows methods that have enabled a collective construction, but not in a synchronized way.
RELATIONSHIP: How the different relationships (support, tolerance, rejection, blocking, spirit of improvement, etc…) between the collective and its environment (residents, government, selected and unselected partners, stakeholders, etc…) have evolved? Have the collective attracted/involved new members? Has it lost its members? Is the collective connected to other networks (inter-regional, international)? Edit
Even before the airport closed, debates over the future of the site had started on the internet. The transformation of the Stuttgart train station into the Stuttgart 21 project had demonstrated the strong ability of German citizens to commit themselves to give their opinions in the field of urban projects. It is also well known that Berlin activist groups are inclined to occupy legally or illegally waste lands (illegal plantations, artistic squats and artistic projects on public areas). It has even become the trademark of this effervescent capital city! The relationships between actors could have become conflicting but up to now the processes have enabled that everyone has seized the global project.
FUTURE: What are the future prospects (growth, development…)? What are the expectations in the short and medium term? What are your questions/concerns? Edit
The buildings that have been decided within the framework of the project are soon going to start being built. Despite the communication efforts that have been made, this side of the project has not been under the spotlight. The persons that we have met do not all know about this part of the project. Some of them know their existence but do not have clear information about it.
The fact that the three year experiment lease of the Pioneers is soon coming to the end could be a source of conflict. The fact that they can use a plot of land or its place could be reappraised. The conflicts could particularly appear for some of the projects that have well developed. (e.g. Allemende Kontor ).
MULTIPLY: What are the opportunities to transfer this experience in other territories, which are the pre-conditions for knowledge duplication/replication and developed know-how’s? Edit
The processes that have been implemented here could be spread to other places. Though it is quite innovative to merge top down and bottom up processes, it is quite simple. It needs a strong political will as well as a capacity to involve citizens and activists on a local scale.
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