Competition Europaplatz Berlin

Europaplatz Süd, the forecourt of the main railway station in Berlin, is being redesigned. The jury has now awarded 1st prize to the design by Rehwaldt Landscape Architects. Read more here.

As the forecourt of Berlin’s main railroad station, Europaplatz Süd plays an important role in the urban fabric. This is where travelers first arrive when they reach the city. It therefore forms an important part of the first impression of the capital. In addition to this representative function, there is also the logistical factor. Visitors to the station should find their way around the forecourt and be subtly guided to the right platform. Following coordination between the state of Berlin, represented by the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate and Environmental Protection, the Mitte district of Berlin and Deutsche Bahn AG, the aim is now to redesign this special square. Those responsible hope that this will improve the quality of stay and the transfer connections.

Four landscape architecture firms were recently commissioned to draw up a proposal in order to put this ambition into practice. At the beginning of October this year, the eight-member jury consisting of representatives of the state of Berlin and Deutsche Bahn AG met with the professional support of four landscape architects and selected the first prize-winning design. Rehwaldt Landschaftsarchitekten from Dresden came out on top. Manja Schreiner, Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment, said after the jury’s decision was announced that she was delighted that the design could transform the still very confusing site into an inviting entrance to Berlin.

Rehwaldt Landscape Architects are fundamentally oriented towards the urban space. Under the guiding principle of “Entrée Berlin”, they propose an urban, inviting square in the center of the city, which should offer good orientation and atmospheric places to stay. To this end, they focus primarily on a spacious, open square that makes arriving travelers feel welcome in the city. This square extends from the station building to Invalidenstrasse as a continuous surface without steps or kerbs. The proposed material is asphalt with a polished surface. This should not only offer a high level of comfort, but also create a warm and lively overall impression with its color scheme using light-colored aggregates. Rehwaldt landscape architects were inspired by terrazzo flooring for the design.

The openness is contrasted by the “green screen” as a further element. As an irregular planting of tall trees, it forms a counterpart to the station building, so to speak. On the one hand, the branches of the trees create a permeable space, while on the other, they provide a screen from Invalidenstrasse. The loose canopy of leaves creates an atmospheric place to spend time.

In addition, the area under the “green umbrella” functions as a storage basin. The rainwater that accumulates on the square is collected in slotted channels and directed to the northern area, where it can be collected. The trees will then absorb the water through their roots and evaporate it through the treetops. On the one hand, this can create a pleasant, cooling effect for the immediate surroundings. On the other hand, the sewer system is relieved and the rainwater is used locally instead of being immediately drained away via sewers. For Dr. Almut Neumann, District Councillor for Order, Environment, Nature, Roads and Green Spaces in the Mitte district, this is an important point: “In times of climate crisis, it is particularly important that we collect the rainwater from the square and channel it to the new trees via infiltration channels. The concept provides innovative ideas that we want to implement.”

The design of Europaplatz will be complemented by functional facilities. To this end, bicycle parking and the Jelbi station – a bundling of sharing services – and a public toilet will be located on the eastern edge of the square. They are clearly visible to users and conceal the existing construction fence. The building with a green roof is to be designed as a simple structure that can be dismantled and relocated at a later date if necessary.

According to Senate Building Director Prof. Petra Kahlfeldt, the open and inviting gesture, the green tree canopy along Invalidenstrasse and the clear edge with bicycle parking facilities and further infrastructure to the east convinced the jury. She added: “The design shows that Europaplatz Süd can become Berlin’s entrée from the main station in the future by continuing to use existing materials in a sustainable, barrier-free way and with a good quality of stay.” Alexander Kaczmarek, Group Representative of Deutsche Bahn for Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, is also convinced that he has now found the right design: “With this variant, we are creating a significant upgrade and more structure on the station forecourt on Invalidenstraße.”

The task now is to translate the design into reality. Rehwaldt Landschaftsarchitekten will be commissioned with the further planning. The current plan is to complete the planning by the summer of next year and then begin with the construction work. If the schedule can be implemented as planned, this challenging construction task could be completed by the end of 2025. And thus make arriving and departing at Berlin Central Station a completely different experience in the future.

Fancy more competition news? On December 15, 2023, the competition for the Vaihingen Garden Show was decided. The open space planning design by one office clearly won over the jury. Read all about it here.