Alexanderplatz Berlin

Alexanderplatz was to be designed as a stone square, as a contrast to the green Marx-Engels-Forum. In the extension of the tree avenue of Rathausstraße, trees were planted as a reminiscence of Königsstraße. The rest of the north-south running street spaces and passages were planted with different tree species on one side. In the south-eastern area of the square, parts of the existing trees were left as a grove, which forms a shady, green space within the square. This effect was created not least by the happy oddity that the red-blossomed chestnuts standing by the houses are considerably larger than those in front. When these were pried open, an exciting view of the square opened up. Elements such as a long table bench and pews complement the chestnut grove.

The large tranquil plaza area, with a floor grid of large-format slabs and colour-contrasting, light-coloured plinths or wide eaves areas, provides an adequate basis for the complexity and structure of the future plaza facades. From a distance, the directionlessness of the grid begins to take effect and a very calm, uniform, seamless image unfolds. This develops a calm background atmosphere for the elements and people that animate the square.

The buildings, as well as the subway exits, the fountain and the Welzzeituhr on the square, were given carpets or flush plinths made of a lighter material, which make them stand on a stage like play figures. With no visible organizing principle, they stand loosely scattered on the square surface.

An element added to the identification points of Alexanderplatz is the Berolina from the Wilhelmine period, but without its raised pedestal.

The materiality of Rathausstraße reaches into Alexanderplatz with a "carpet", emphasizing the gateway effect and the historic main axis out of the city center to the Alex. Dierksenstrasse was paved like the existing area southeast of the Alex building. The driving areas are delimited by plain bollards. The subway exits were turned into meeting places by an extensive concrete bench and the use of the smoke extraction towers as informative advertising columns.

The illumination of the square is provided by the aforementioned 20 m high floodlight masts in a linear arrangement on the southwestern side of the square, turning the Alex into a stadium in the evening, a stage for the citizens. The stage itself is further accentuated by a grid of light points.

The goal was to create a square that remains and becomes a civic cosmopolitan square. A place of all walks of life, a place to encourage communication and celebration. A square as a stage for the citizens. Here man/woman meets the world.

Excerpt from the jury report: The concept is convincing in its design effect, in which elegance is combined in a balanced way with a character of the rough and vital metropolitan square, for which this place stands since Döblin's novel "Berlin Alexanderplatz".