A Temporary Riverside Path Along Berlin’s Spree River
The Spree banks in the northern part of the Luisenstadt redevelopment zone in Berlin-Mitte are situated on the former inner-German border and form part of the historic Berlin Wall border strip. Since reunification, the site has been earmarked as part of a continuous, publicly accessible riverside corridor, but its implementation has been elusive. In the meantime, a variety of informal activities have emerged along the water’s edge, including urban gardening plots, community-run pop-up gardens, and temporary shelters for people without permanent housing.
As part of a recent feasibility study, a multidisciplinary team evaluated the viability of a new riverfront path connecting the Schilling Bridge and the Jannowitz Bridge. This study was based on intensive dialogue with local residents and community organisations such as Spreeacker e.V. and Teepeeland e.V., as well as other key stakeholders. The brief called for a rapid deployment solution that would be ‘good enough for now’: a provisional interim riverside path that could be installed quickly while respecting the existing socio-ecological fabric.
The resulting concept unites the site’s fragmented urban fabric, intricate technical infrastructure and remaining traces of the Berlin Wall into a coherent landscape narrative. The long-neglected riverfront of the Spreebank is transformed into an open, lively public realm by introducing continuous pedestrian and cycling routes, multifunctional activity zones and inviting gathering spaces. The design deliberately accommodates existing informal uses, providing a framework that can evolve alongside the community’s needs and aspirations.
Data
Landscape Architecture: Gruppe F
Website link: https://gruppef.com/en/project/spreeuferweg-temporary-measures-create-opportunities/
Team/Project Manager: ThoMi Bauermeister, Peter Werner, Robert Esau
Area: 6.900 m²
Client: STATTBAU Berlin Stadtentwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, Bezirksamt Mitte Fachbereich Stadtplanung
