Temporary design at Spittelmarkt Resting points in the river

The Spittelmarkt is certainly one of the most diffuse places of Berlin's Mitte. The historically significant square, whose origins can be traced back to the time of the twin cities of Cölln and Alt-Berlin, was until well into the 20th century an urban space characterized by handsome facades and bustling with people. After the complete destruction of the area during the war, the urban planning of the GDR followed the premises of the car-oriented city during reconstruction. To this day, the character of the Spittelmarkt is shaped above all by the eight-lane Leipziger Straße and the backdrop of the accompanying high-rise buildings.

The redesign counters this restless and uninviting spatial structure by using the classic park bench as an "archetype of rest". The result is an exciting dialogue between existing structures and additions. The bundling of the individual benches creates the necessary presence in the space, whereas their arrangement - sometimes in rows, sometimes isolated, sometimes facing each other - opens up new visual relationships and offers surprising places for rest and communication.

The redesign is designed as a temporary measure for a period of 5-10 years, since the Planwerk Innenstadt envisages the fundamental reorganisation of the area in the medium term with reference to the historically framed square situation. The planning was carried out in a dialogue-based design process with the intensive involvement of local residents. This made it possible to achieve a high level of acceptance for the project. In terms of sustainability, the project was realized with standard seating furniture.