Since November 2023, the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, together with the Humboldt Forum Foundation in the Berlin Palace and the District Office of Mitte, has been conducting a feasibility study on the climate-friendly conversion of the open space on the south side of the Humboldt Forum with the involvement of the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) and the Hanns Eisler School of Music. This was concluded in September 2024 with a jointly supported result. The discourse event “Living in urban space – the future of Berlin’s squares” on September 25, 2024 at the Humboldt Forum, with Senate Building Director Petra Kahlfeldt and others, will provide information on the climate-friendly adaptation of Schlossplatz.
Image above: Visualisation by bbz Landschaftsarchitekten as part of the feasibility study for the climate-friendly open space between Humboldt Forum S üd, ESMT and Hanns Eisler University of Music, September 2024
The open space to the south of the Humboldt Forum will be upgraded with trees and landscaped green areas and a new fountain will be built on the historic site of the Neptune Fountain. The feasibility study was carried out by bbz Landschaftsarchitekten, who won the realisation competition for the Humboldt Forum open space design in 2012/2013 and accompanied the subsequent implementation.
Since the open space realisation competition in 2012/2013, the requirements for a blue-green infrastructure, shading, rainwater use and evaporative cooling in the open space have changed significantly. Potentials for a climate-adapted and heat-resilient square design to increase the quality of stay for visitors and students were therefore developed for the square area with the two university forecourts.
Since the open space realisation competition in 2012/2013, the requirements for a blue-green infrastructure, shading, rainwater use and evaporative cooling in the open space have changed significantly. Potentials for a climate-adapted and heat-resilient square design to increase the quality of stay for visitors and students were therefore developed for the square area with the two university forecourts.
Climate-friendly open space design
The feasibility study develops a climate-friendly open space design, which will be concretised and implemented in several development stages. The space is to be greened in future with several groups of trees and planting areas. This will create attractive places to spend time, which will not only provide shade in summer, but also bring biodiversity to the urban space. Seating areas will invite people to linger. In order to achieve a higher quality of stay, the feasibility study proposes redesigning the existing streets. A new fountain will be realised at the site of the historic Neptune Fountain.
In the first phase, the first greening measures to improve the site’s climate will be implemented in 2025. The Humboldt Forum Foundation will use this feasibility study as the basis for further planning this year. It is planned that additional trees will be planted on the lower Spree terrace and three groups of trees will be created in the south of the Schlossplatz. Within the first phase, improvements to the footpath connections, accessibility and accessibility of the Humboldt Forum and the ESMT along the Spree Canal, including the central reservation, will also be examined and implemented. Furthermore, the proposals for redesigning the traffic areas will be further developed on the basis of the traffic concept for the city centre, which is currently being developed.
The necessary framework conditions for the new fountain at the site of the historic Neptune Fountain are currently being finalised. The aim is to organise an open competition for the design of the fountain.
An external advisory committee of landscape architects supported the process. The members of the advisory committee were Maren Brakebusch from Vogt Landschaftsarchitekten AG, Marianne Mommsen from relais Landschaftsarchitekten Heck Mommsen PartGmbB, Klaus von Krosigk, former horticultural director of the Berlin State Monument Office, and Ole Christ from Wirtz International Deutschland GmbH. The Humboldt Foundation and the State of Berlin intend to set up a coordination group for the realisation of all measures, to commission the next planning processes in the short term and to clarify the necessary financing for the subsequent implementation.
Event Living in urban space – The future of Berlin’s squares
In the discourse event Living in Urban Space – The Future of Berlin’s Squares on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Humboldt Forum with Senate Building Director Petra Kahlfeldt, among others, Hans-Dieter Hegner, Director of Technology at the Humboldt Forum Foundation in the Berlin Palace, will provide information on the climate-friendly adaptation of the Palace Square. The event is being organized in cooperation between the Architects’ and Engineers’ Association of Berlin-Brandenburg and the Humboldt Forum as part of the exhibition Immer modern! Berlin and its streets, which is conceived and organized by the AIV.
Senate Building Director Petra Kahlfeldt: “After an intensive and fruitful process, I have great expectations for Schlossplatz, which will gain significantly in quality of stay for residents and visitors to our city thanks to the new design.”
Hans-Dieter Hegner, Chief Technology Officer of the Humboldt Forum Foundation at the Berlin Palace: “We are grateful that the Senate Building Department has worked with us to develop a climate-friendly and attractive square in the south of the Humboldt Forum and welcome the proposal from bbz Landschaftsarchitekten. The southern Schlossplatz must gain in quality of stay and functionality. This is in the interests of the city, local residents and visitors. The aim must be to create the desired green islands as soon as possible. The Humboldt Forum Foundation in the Berlin Palace will therefore tackle the short-term redesign of the square and will immediately initiate the first planning contracts.”
WHEN?
Event date: Wednesday, 25. September 2024, 6 – 8 pm
WHERE?
Humboldt Forum
Room 3
Schloßplatz. 1
10178 Berlin
