James Mitchell

Tempelhofer Felde Ideas Competition Spring 2025

Tempelhofer Felde presents a unique intersection of public memory, ecological richness, and political significance. The 355-hectare site, in its current form, is entirely accounted for as open space. In 2014, approximately 740,000 Berliners voted in a landmark referendum to ban development on the field. The countless uses, protections, and cultural layers embedded in the site mean that even the simplest proposed interventions in certain areas quickly become unfeasible.

The approach taken respects both the scale and complexity of the site, proposing solutions for individual areas and challenges rather than attempting to impose a singular, unified vision onto the whole field.

Firstly, the ecological framework is designed to complement and enhance the existing conditions of the field. It introduces four strategic zones, each responding to local ecological pressures and opportunities, with all zones converging on a singular point.

This point is the first built element of the proposal. ‘Tempelhofer Auge’ will serve as a gathering area and a wayfinding landmark in the meadow expanse. The elevated landform will offer vistas out on the field, while the lawn area below will have a direct interaction with the event space immediately outside the old airport building.

The Columbia dam region in the north will see a redesign of the refugee camp, using two primary routes to organise the land use hierarchy within. An educational hub is proposed outside the camp, directly addressing the urgent shortage of accessible educational spaces in Berlin, particularly for marginalised communities. New sports facilities and enhanced landscaping — using planting typologies from the ecological Strategy Zone 3 — complete the redefinition of this northern zone.

The western edge, at Tempelhofer Damm, will accommodate a new housing development consisting of approximately 800 units, integrated thoughtfully into the surrounding urban context. Rather than simply addressing Berlin’s pressing housing crisis, this intervention also aims to reactivate the adjacent former railway line, preserving it as a heritage monument and establishing it as a transition point between city and field.

Formalising the landscape elements to the east of the railway line defines Tempelhofer Feld’s edge as an enduring public space, safeguarding it against future encroachment. At the heart of this new neighbourhood, a proposed Staircase Plaza extends towards Tempelhofer Damm, containing essential services and incorporating a vibrant market strip through its core.

This multi-layered proposal reflects a commitment to respecting Tempelhofer Feld’s existing identity while strategically responding to Berlin’s contemporary urban needs. Each intervention seeks to strengthen the field as a place where ecology, culture, recreation, and urban life intersect.