Like most of the towns around Berlin, the population of Glienicke/Nordbahn has grown in recent years. Many residential neighbourhoods have been developed, whereas the center has remained almost untouched. The aim of the project was to renew the centre and recapture its appealing cultural, social and economical terms, offering new services and open public space linked to the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The project provided interventions in three areas, which are strongly connected with the historical heritage of Glienicke/Nordbahn for both open space and built environment (e.g. the “anger” and traditional farm yard structures).

1- Creating new cores: the courtyards
A model for the development of the centre, which is inspired by the presence of a traditional courtyard, was proposed. Mixed-use developments provide unique and recognisable spaces with amenity values throughout the centre. This type of new courtyard also allows new pedestrian crossings of the city.

2- Connections: a new mobility
Streetscapes do not just serve traffic, but also provide a place to meet and spend time. The lack of excessive traffic through the centre enables the streetscapes to be redesigned to enhance the structure of open spaces and to meet the needs of users, especially pedestrians and cyclists.

3- Open space: the squares and the park
By reducing the footprint of the school campus, it is possible to free space for a central square, which serves as a gathering place. It is also as the focal point for emerging social and cultural functions by giving room to local associations activities, providing exhibition space and office space for local entrepreneurship. The new main square is designed to create a new relationship between the main road, the park and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Bürgerpark is partially redesigned and integrated with the spatial structure of the new centre.