Central Park Berlin Germany

The “Schlossplatz” in Berlin marked the historic core of the city, whose two parts had been reunified in 1990, after the breakdown of communism. Instead of rebuilding the former City Palace at that site, the proposal by ingenhoven architects foresaw a space free of ideology: a Central Park that invites people to gather, relax and contemplate. The proposal is open to any function future generations will find adequate for this location. The Central Park is at least a temporary solution for the site.

The imperial City Palace, an extended baroque complex crowned by a dome by architect Andreas Schlüter, which for most of its time served as residence for the Hohenzollern Kings of Prussia, was demolished in 1950 by the German Democratic Republic. Following reunification of Germany, it was decided to rebuild the exterior. The new building will have the cubature of the palace with reconstructed façades. The interior will be modern. The building, under the name of Humboldtforum, will be finished in 2019.

Like Central Park in Manhattan, Hyde Park in London and the Tuileries in Paris, a central park would fill the vacuum with new life. The idea is that the park will bridge a period of deliberation, culminating in a truly meaningful and appropriate redevelopment of the site. Alternatively, the park may become a permanent feature. Let trees thrive instead of barricades in the hope of planting and nourishing a seed and allowing a solution to be found for what should grow on this historic ground. Secondly, to find an interim solution for an unsatisfactory component in the urban plan. A park will not impede future development.