Schorfheideviertel residential area - charrette and redesign Berlin-Marzahn

Initial situation (2002-2006 )

Marzahn North-West - and thus also the Schorfheideviertel - has been one of Berlin's urban redevelopment areas since 2002. As a result of the urban redevelopment measures, the residents of the neighbourhood initially feared drastic changes to their lives. Uncertainty about the future of the neighborhood and concerns about imminent demolition therefore shaped the mood. The possible consequences for the individual ranged from the loss of one's own apartment and thus a piece of home to the fear of living in a district with an uncertain future, with conceivable consequences ranging from neglect to an increase in crime.

Developing solutions together (2007/1 )

Against this background, it was imperative to intensively involve the local people in the planning for the future of their Schorfheide quarter. In a comprehensive participation process initiated by the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, the neighbourhood management and degewo AG and carried out by gruppe F Landschaftsarchitekten and TS Redaktion using the so-called charrette method, more than 200 interested citizens and residents, both adults and children and young people, as well as numerous initiatives and institutions were involved in the planning for the redesign of the Schorfheideviertel. In addition, local knowledge was linked with external knowledge.

So-called idea generators were involved, young landscape architects, architects, sociologists and geographers. They asked the residents about their ideas, developed ideas from them and visualized them immediately. The open atmosphere and the knowledge that a joint result was to be presented to the public motivated the participants to bring their interests to a common denominator. In the charrette process, a solution idea was finally developed that has model character for urban development in shrinking areas.

The qualities of this well-developed urban district were worked out together. First and foremost was the close-to-nature and quiet residential location. From the residents of the neighborhood came the idea: "We bring the Schorfheide to Marzahn-North-West".

The Schorfheide as a model (2007/2 )

When this idea was examined, a surprising number of similarities were found between the desired qualities for the Schorfheide district and the known qualities of the Schorfheide. Therefore, the Schorfheide was declared the guiding principle. At the same time, an identity-creating open space was to be created that would make the Schorfheideviertel in Marzahn North-West distinctive. Characteristic features of the Schorfheide such as the moving landscape, grasses and pines were adopted and made design elements of the design. The residents also wanted garages, which are now placed on parts of the deconstruction areas in the form of so-called multifunctional boxes (MuFuBoxes for short), arranged like a flock of sheep in the Schorfheide.

Through the charrette process, the brainstorming for the future use of the deconstruction areas could be combined with resident participation and the activation of civic engagement. The communicative atmosphere and the strengthening of identification with the neighbourhood led to an intensive exchange among the residents. Contacts were made and neighbourly networks formed, which will continue to exist beyond the project. Further activities, such as the art competition for "Deer for the Schorfheide Quarter", the subsequent awarding of deer sponsorships, and the rental of the MuFuBoxes, keep residents' interest in their neighborhood alive.

The implementation of the concept: Hills, pines, grasses...and more (2009/1 )

The moving landscape of the Schorfheide can now also be experienced in Berlin Marzahn. Mounds of earth up to three metres high have been modelled and grass has been sown. Tall grasses and more than 50 large Scots pines accentuate the hilltops. In spring, numerous flowering tulips are a special eye-catcher. In the second construction phase further hills were created. In addition, 24 MuFuBoxes were set up. The special design attraction lies in their embedding in the hilly landscape. They can be rented by interested residents and used as a garage, as a storage room for equipment or as a hobby room. All MuFuBoxes could be rented out after a short time, long before their installation was started. With the MuFuBoxes, the owner, degewo AG, meets the need for privately usable space outside the apartment. At the same time, the openness of the possible uses facilitates more intensive neighbourly contacts and strengthens togetherness in the neighbourhood.

Citizens actively shape deer sculptures (2009/2 )

The involvement of citizens in the planning process did not end with the charrette. In order to complete the connection to the landscape of the Schorfheide, additional deer sculptures were to enliven the Schorfheide quarter. The artist Jörg Schlinke won a competition organised by degewo AG and supervised by gruppe F. With his idea he continued the idea of the charrette. With his idea, he consistently continued the idea of resident participation. First, he launched a call for ideas for the design of the deer. The degewo AG provided an apartment on site, so that the artist had the opportunity to inspire many residents and institutions for his project. In the end, children, young people, families and senior citizens submitted more than 50 suggestions for the design of a stag. Of these, four stags were selected by a jury for realization. The artist then cast the stag sculptures out of concrete together with the people who had submitted the ideas. This was combined with a trip to the Schorfheide. During holidays on the farm, there was, in addition to the artistic work, also the opportunity to enjoy the country life, from riding on the pony to the night hike - to the roaring deer of the Schorfheide ...

After the installation of the deer sculptures in Marzahn, they were ceremoniously unveiled during a celebration with numerous guests. In order to perpetuate the identification of the residents with the deer (and their neighborhood), sponsorships were awarded to residents and school classes. The deer thus make a lasting contribution to the identification of the citizens with their neighbourhood.

Partial deconstruction (2008 )

At the beginning of 2006, it also became apparent that a partial deconstruction of the houses as in the pilot project "Ahrensfelder Terrassen" could not be realized in this measure. By the end of 2008, therefore, a total of 1223 apartments had to be demolished as part of the Stadtumbau Ost project in Marzahn North-West, 262 of them in the Schorfheideviertel.

to the stories back to overview

1. Initial situation (2002-2006)
2. Developing solutions together (2007/1)
3. The Schorfheide as a model (2007/2)
4. The implementation of the concept: Hills, pines, grasses...and more (2009/1)
5. Citizens actively shape deer sculptures (2009/2)
6. Partial deconstruction (2008)