In Berlin, the Südpanke can be experienced again. For a long time, the river was buried underground. Now it forms the backbone of the new “Südpanke Berlin” green corridor.
In the middle of urban Berlin, between Charité and the Federal Intelligence Service, the Südpanke can be experienced again. For a long time, the river was buried underground. Now it forms the backbone of the new Südpanke green corridor. On its banks, 2.9 hectares of new green and open spaces have been created, which will benefit people, the climate and biodiversity in the future.
With the opening of the final construction phase of the Südpanke green corridor, Berliners now have a new green space at their disposal. The reason for its creation was the opening up of the Südpanke. This small river branches off from the Spree near Friedrichstraße station and flows into the Panke three kilometers to the north. For a long time, the Südpanke flowed underground unnoticed through backyards and along the backs of large buildings. Now the water can be experienced again and its banks can be used once more. Today, the Südpanke is the backbone of a new green corridor that connects Berlin’s historic city center with the open spaces in the north of the city. The city has thus come a step closer to implementing its charter for Berlin’s urban green.
After completion of the second construction phase of the Südpanke green corridor in summer 2021, a total of 700 meters of the watercourse will be exposed. They will form the backbone of the new Südpanke green corridor. It crosses through the middle of Berlin’s blocks of houses and connects Invalidenpark in the south with the green spaces of Südpankepark in the north. In other words, a new green link has been created that brings almost three hectares of natural green space into the city. Play and sunbathing lawns, a playground for small children, a climbing forest and other leisure facilities are embedded in the park. Cyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from the new green corridor. It offers them an attractive, continuous north-south connection along the redesigned Südpanke bank.
As the backbone for the new green corridor, the south bank meanders through the open space in various sections with slight changes of direction. They structure the river space, allow different views of the surroundings and also create different exposures to light and shade. The different design of the banks contributes to further variety in the green corridor. While the western bank of the southern bank invites you to sit down with its stony, urban design, the eastern bank is characterized by nature. Here, the embankments are designed in a near-natural way and attract visitors with play and sunbathing areas, for example.
In addition to improving the quality of life for people, the open watercourse and its banks help to improve the urban microclimate. They thus contribute to strengthening climate resilience and biodiversity. The open watercourse also brings cooling to the densely built-up part of Berlin and provides new habitats for plants and animals. As a result, insects will find refuge and food here. In addition to the new Federal Intelligence Service building in the north of the green corridor, embankments and meadow areas even provide a habitat for wild bees.
Design by bbzl landscape architects
A competition was held in 2007 to decide on the design of the Südpanke green corridor. The Berlin office bbzl landschaften städtebau architektur emerged as the winner. Their concept for a green link between Chausseestraße and Habersaathstraße and their design for a coherent sequence of green sections were convincing. They also accompanied the realization of the green corridor together with the Grigoleit office from Berlin as experts for engineering and hydraulic structures.
Entrées provide access to the green corridor at four points. This brings city and nature together. In addition, Berliners will find access to an area that has long been at the back and in between. The entrances to the new green corridor are located on Invalidenstraße in the south, in the immediate vicinity of Invalidenpark. Halfway north, between residential buildings and Kraftweg, there is a western entrance to the new green space. Finally, the Südpanke green corridor is crossed further north by Ida-von Arnim-Straße. The route continues north of the road until the new, open Südpanke with its green banks then connects to Südpanke Park.
Construction phases and construction costs
While the first construction phase of the Südpanke green corridor took place between 2010 and 2012, the second part had to wait. First, the new headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service had to be completed. Only when the complex and its immediate surroundings had been built and the construction security fence had been removed did the second construction phase of the Südpanke green corridor begin in 2018. Its construction cost a total of 9.85 million euros. The smaller part went towards landscaping. The larger sum of 6.95 million euros was invested in hydraulic engineering.
Green networking
Today, almost 15 years after the competition to redesign the Südpank green corridor, the new open space joins the ranks of Berlin’s 20 main green routes. In addition to the 2.9 hectares of newly created green spaces with large grassy and near-natural meadow zones, with climbing and play facilities, the green corridor along the Südpanke offers an important path connection beyond urban traffic. Cyclists and pedestrians can find their way very close to the water. At the same time, Berliners will find a new piece of green in the middle of the city. The Senator for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection emphasizes how important this is: “The green corridor on the Südpanke strengthens Berlin’s sustainable development in line with our charter for Berlin’s urban greenery. Climate and species protection go hand in hand with a better quality of life and improved mobility for people,” says Regine Günther.
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