berlin town hall forum by kiefer/chipperfield/graft architects

plans have been unveiled to redevelop a historic section of berlin’s city centre, a 14-hectare site near the famous rote rathaus (red town hall). 3 prominent teams of architects have come up with ideas: kiefer/chipperfield/graft – britain’s david chipperfield, and the two german architectural teams graft and kiefer landschaftsarchitektur.

all 5 ideas of the team seek to leave the area undeveloped – with no buildings.

first concept: ‘uferterrassen’ a large bay with water terraces could arise (between the tv tower left) and spree (r). kiefer/chipperfield/graft project image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

the first concept by kiefer/chipperfield/graft is the most radical vision of all 5. the river ‘spree’ flows into a giant pool of water where sailboats, motorboats, ferries and water taxis transfer image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

first concept by kiefer/chipperfield/graft image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

second concept: ‘esplanaden’ / esplanade with trees. kiefer/chipperfield/graft project image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

third concept: ‘parklandschaft’ a city park would make the terrain into a ‘green oasis’. kiefer/chipperfield/graft project image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

fourth concept: ‘städtische bühne’ / an urban stage glass walls enclose an open space, there is room for events – from concerts to fashion shows. kiefer/chipperfield/graft project image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

the fifth concept: ‘archäologischer garten’ / archaeological garden visitors are invited for a walk through the history of berlin and can watch the archaeologists during excavations. kiefer/chipperfield/graft project image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

‘at the moment, we are only in the early stages of our considerations,’ said berlin’s building director, regula luescher. the reconstruction of the so-called ‘town hall forum’ will not begin until year 2017, whether one of the five ideas suggested will ever be realised is to be decided in the summer of 2011 when a design concept for the site is due to approved by the city government and when in 2012 an official architectural competition will be organized.

rotes rathaus, berlin (project 1857-1859, construction 1861-1869) architect hermann friedrich waesemann photo from 1925 image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin

the rotes rathaus (red town hall) is located in the ‘mitte’ district on rathausstraße near alexanderplatz. it is the home to the governing mayor and the government (senate of berlin). the name of the landmark building dates from the facade design with red clinker bricks.

rotes rathaus, berlin photo from 1994 image courtesy stadtentwicklung berlin