Nichtoffener Wettbewerb | 01/1999
Spandauer Havelpromenade
1. Preis
häfner jiménez betcke jarosch landschaftsarchitektur gmbh
Landschaftsarchitektur
Erläuterungstext
Public open spaces in the residential area of Haveleck, defined in the statutory development plans as pedestrian zones, were the object of a competition carried out by the Wasserstadt Spandau housing development agency in 1999. Five landscape architecture practices were invited to examine an exposed public open space with multiple connections and views across the banks of the Havel River. The goal of the competition was to present a design concept at an implementation level that met current functional and economic demands and convincingly answered future urban development, architecture and landscape planning needs.
The jury unanimously selected the entry of Häfner / Jiménez for further elaboration.
In general, our firm opted for a simple and precise design such as is usually characteristic of our projects that are near a large surface of water, since the water and the visual relationships with it strongly affect the development.
With this project, the historical uses of the site presented some unique problems. First, the area had served as a port for more than 200 years. Subsequently, during the 40 years that Berlin was a divided city, the area held fuel installations to guarantee fuel supply during blockades. This resulted in severe contamination of the subsoil by cyanide. After the wall fell, since the area was no longer needed for storage purposes, the Wasserstadt plan was introduced. Located on the edge of the Havel River and facing west with excellent views of the setting sun, this area seemed an ideal recreational space.
Because of the cyanide in the subsoil, it was necessary to design the promenade in two levels, one at the height of the sheet pile wall and another at the level of future urban development, some three metres higher. The difference in height between the two levels had to be resolved in a way that was both functional and also connected the levels to guarantee access. This demand was met by a 30 metre wide staircase that opens the plaza onto the river and the jetty. In this design, we found inspiration in the usual details of river constructions in Berlin. Thus, the boxes of staircases at the end of the small streets in the urban development reflect those found along the city’s river routes.
With its rigid symmetry, the central plaza creates an element that is capable of merging the two parts of the promenade with their different structures. We also installed a prefabricated concrete wall painted orange, highlighting the colour of the old sheet pile wall.
Site: Berlin, Spandau
Competition: 1999 / 1st Prize
Completion: October 2001
Client: Wasserstadt Berlin GmbH
Area: 11,000 m2
Net Costs: 2,000,000 Euros
The jury unanimously selected the entry of Häfner / Jiménez for further elaboration.
In general, our firm opted for a simple and precise design such as is usually characteristic of our projects that are near a large surface of water, since the water and the visual relationships with it strongly affect the development.
With this project, the historical uses of the site presented some unique problems. First, the area had served as a port for more than 200 years. Subsequently, during the 40 years that Berlin was a divided city, the area held fuel installations to guarantee fuel supply during blockades. This resulted in severe contamination of the subsoil by cyanide. After the wall fell, since the area was no longer needed for storage purposes, the Wasserstadt plan was introduced. Located on the edge of the Havel River and facing west with excellent views of the setting sun, this area seemed an ideal recreational space.
Because of the cyanide in the subsoil, it was necessary to design the promenade in two levels, one at the height of the sheet pile wall and another at the level of future urban development, some three metres higher. The difference in height between the two levels had to be resolved in a way that was both functional and also connected the levels to guarantee access. This demand was met by a 30 metre wide staircase that opens the plaza onto the river and the jetty. In this design, we found inspiration in the usual details of river constructions in Berlin. Thus, the boxes of staircases at the end of the small streets in the urban development reflect those found along the city’s river routes.
With its rigid symmetry, the central plaza creates an element that is capable of merging the two parts of the promenade with their different structures. We also installed a prefabricated concrete wall painted orange, highlighting the colour of the old sheet pile wall.
Site: Berlin, Spandau
Competition: 1999 / 1st Prize
Completion: October 2001
Client: Wasserstadt Berlin GmbH
Area: 11,000 m2
Net Costs: 2,000,000 Euros
Beurteilung durch das Preisgericht
The proposal is impressive in its clear urban zoning of the riverbank into a lower promenade oriented towards the waterfront and a balcony allowing generous prospects across the Havel River. Above, the project boasts a great variety of different recreational spaces of a highly sensual nature such as an exterior staircase with a landing stage, an open plaza, blocks of lime trees and a balcony. The spatial articulation of the promenade is supported by the coherent and harmonious selection of materials.