Katharina Muenstermann

A new Vision for Liveable Density

The increasing demand for affordable housing in Berlin, coupled with outdated and spatially inefficient commercial areas, necessitates visionary urban development solutions. The site of the former Köpenick freight station site presents an ideal test bed for implementing resilient urban planning through the introduction of an innovative cluster typology. This typology aims to achieve a high degree of spatial density, where residential, commercial, and social functions coexist in a symbiotic structure. The density fosters an urban morphology that simultaneously preserves generous open spaces, thus minimizing land consumption and promoting ecological resilience.

At the core of this concept lies the vision of a “city of short distances“, where the spatial proximity of living and working spaces enables a new urban density without compromising quality of life. This mix of uses is facilitated by the evolving demands of commercial spaces: the shift towards a knowledge-based, creative economy, along with advancements in technology, reduces both the spatial footprint and the environmental impact of businesses. This transformation allows for a seamless interweaving of residential and commercial spaces, fostering urban density far beyond the limitations of traditional monofunctional zones.

The new cluster typology follows an overarching urban logic and can be composed of individual utilisation elements corresponding to the respective spatial and programmatic requirements. Noisy commercial units develop along the main streets, while smaller, quieter businesses activate the public space on the ground floor. The residential units rise from the second floor upwards and offer views of shared courtyards and the neighbourhood park that connects the clusters. A diverse housing mix, from one-bedroom-apartments to maisonettes, caters to a range of living needs. These spaces are complemented by a network of social amenities-daycares, schools, and community hubs-enabling a dynamic, high-density urban environment where both density and liveability are elevated in parallel.

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