Letteplatz Intergenerational and intercultural neighbourhood square

Due to the clear spatial zoning and differentiation into "inside and outside", a square was created in Berlin-Reinickendorf with the redesign of the existing building, which offers all user groups and generations space for a wide variety of activities: resting, playing ball, relaxing, lying, swinging, sitting, jumping, meeting, gymnastics, entertaining ... In 2012, the project was awarded the National Prize for Integrated Urban Development and Building Culture "Stadt bauen. Stadt leben." awarded by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.

Participation by and with the neighbourhood management
In the run-up to the competitive expert procedure for awarding the planning services for the redesign of Letteplatz, the local neighbourhood management conducted a survey to find out what residents wanted for Letteplatz. These wishes became part of the call for tenders and were translated into user-group-specific needs by planung.freiraum in the course of preparing the competition entry. What do girls need, what would attract older and old people to the square? How does a place appeal to people from different social, cultural and religious backgrounds? What does the Letteplatz need, so that everyone is thought of, everyone feels meant?
In a public presentation of the competition entry, the majority of citizens and the jury could be convinced of the diverse spatial-structural concept and the design derived from it for the Letteplatz.

Participation in the planning process
Public presentations of the preliminary design and draft followed. Following this, the plans were each discussed in groups and supplemented where necessary. The participants acted as experts in their everyday lives, as representatives of all potential user groups of Letteplatz. Has everyone been thought of? Is there room for everyone? Can a peaceful coexistence grow in this way?
Through this participation of a conceivably broad public, gender, cultural and intergenerational aspects could be taken into account for the people in a comprehensible way from the tender to the design. Places of retreat for young people, recreational elements for caregivers and people without children, the movement belt for old and young - all these are consistent needs of residents of different origins, ages and genders, which could be asked for and implemented during the participation process. The square is therefore now carried by a cross-cultural atmosphere felt as home.
Accordingly, many people came to celebrate the 1st groundbreaking and later the opening of the square in a large festival.

in operation
The Letteplatz also 4 years after its opening sustainably fulfills the very different demands of the users. It is also able to integrate new needs: currently, school sports take place on the Letteplatz, as the gym of the neighbouring primary school is used as accommodation for refugees. The Letteplatz is also a place for the first integrative contacts of people from this accommodation in the neighborhood.
The neighbourhood management uses the square as a platform for various activities. It is a destination and contact point for older people on their walks (exercise training, meeting place,) integrates people with impairments, families, children and many others - peacefully and in great density.
Daily checks ensure the care and maintenance of the Letteplatz despite the heavy use. Design and amenities are proving to be robust and sustainable. Letteplatz is proof that involvement methodically tailored to the place and its people prevents vandalism because everyone is thought of, everyone identifies with the place and protects it accordingly.