Return to Awards home page

Child-friendly Urban Renewal in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin

As in the rest of Berlin, the birth-rate in Prenzlauer Berg had been declining dramatically until recently. This trend has been reversed and for two years now, birth rates in Prenzlauer Berg have been higher than anywhere else in the city. This 'hip neighbourhood' is producing offspring, and urban renewal projects must be tailored to this development.

Prenzlauer Berg is one of the most heavily built-up areas in Berlin. The architecture and zoning structure dating from the late 19th century have largely survived, providing little space for facilities for children and young people; green spaces and playgrounds were scarce.

At first, pre-existing conditions were as unfavourable as could be: at the outset of urban renewal 10 years ago, there were hardly any playgrounds and green spaces at all. The few existing spaces were desolate, and with public funding in short supply there was little hope for redeeming this situation in the near future.

Child-friendly renewal of the neighbourhood is based on three elements: Community identification: Only if there is active community interest can a project be developed and implemented that will endure in the long term. This starts with plans that take into account residents’ needs, continues with their involvement in implementation and ends with schemes relying on community participation to make sure that public spaces are used and controlled, and to enable their long-term cost-effective maintenance.

A network of public spaces and facilities for children and young people: The scarce public open spaces must be developed in such a way that what they lack in quantity is made up for by high quality planning and implementation. Adaptive re-use of building has created new and original facilities that suit the wishes and needs of children and young people.

The role of the redevelopment commissioner: in Prenzlauer Berg the city government of Berlin appointed the S.T.E.R.N. Company of Careful Urban Renewal as Re-development Commissioner to take charge of organising and implementing the full urban renewal process.

Recent developments in local demographic structure suggest that the strategy is working. Meanwhile about 50 green spaces, playgrounds and facilities for children and young people have been created. Prenzlauer Berg is the only inner-city area in Germany to record rising birth rates. Families are returning to the neighbourhood, and town planners need to make them feel that they made the right decision.

The Jury said:
The aim of the urban renewal and management project/process 'This City is for Children Too' was to improve the quality of existing desolate public space and make it attractive for use and play for children and young people. It encompassed the whole redevelopment process, including coordination of all agents and persons involved, public relations, communications, finance, monitoring, implementation and maintenance schemes.

The process was comprehensive with emphasis on shortcomings in public spaces and full attention devoted to improvements with relatively modest design means. The project is a very good example of realistic planning practice. It is adaptable for similar spatial situations all over the world in metropolitan historic neighbourhoods.

The project is an excellent example of good governance, showing that the planning profession can contribute effectively to structural, spatial and social improvement. The planning method employed was particularly useful in eliciting rapid responses. The approach turned shortcomings in space into a high quality sustainable social environment.