Kiezblock Komponistenviertel

Kiezblock Komponistenviertel - ©

Kiezblock Komponistenviertel

Status

completed

City

Berlin

Main actors

Local Government

Project area

Neighborhood or district

Duration

2021 - 2023

This project is based on an innovative approach to city organization, which was first pioneered in Barcelona. It focuses on reshaping traffic management by re-allocating public spaces in a Berlin neighbourhood. This mobility concept limits through traffic on designated streets, prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists, green spaces, and areas for interaction, play, and recreation. Throughout all stages of the project, citizen participation and a shared sense of civic responsibility are actively encouraged.

For further information about the case study, click here.

Sustainable Development Goals

City information

City

Berlin, Germany

Size and population development

In 2019, the municipality of Berlin had a population of 3,669,491 inhabitants, making it the most populous city in the European Union (EU). The larger metropolitan area has about 5 million inhabitants.

Population composition

According to estimations, about one third of Berlin’s population was foreign born or has a migratory background. These inhabitants originate from other parts of the EU—such as Poland, Italy or Bulgaria—as well as from countries outside of the EU, such as Syria, Vietnam or the United States of America. The largest non-native population comes from Turkey: In 2019, more than 107,000 Turkish nationals were registered as inhabitants of Berlin.

Main functions

Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. As a city-state it is also one of the country’s 16 Länder, as the federal states are called in Germany. Situated approximately 112 miles (180 km) south of the Baltic Sea, the city lies in the wide glacial valley of the Spree River, which runs through Berlin’s centre. The city extends over an area of 891.7 square kilometres and stands at an average altitude of 34 meters above sea level. After the reunification of Germany and East and West Berlin in 1990, the unified Berlin was re-established as the country’s capital (replacing Bonn, the former capital of West Germany). In 1999, large parts of the Federal Government and the German Bundestag finally moved back to Berlin. Berlin is a city of great historical significance, which becomes evident considering the amount of historical landmarks that visualize the city’s history. Some of the most important landmarks include the Brandenburg Gate (built in 1793), the Reichstag Building (which dates to 1884), remnants of the Berlin Wall (taken down on the 9th of November 1989) or the Holocaust memorial (inaugurated in 2003). Berlin is also a famous cultural hub, known for its world-class museums, theatres, operas and concert halls as well as its vibrant club scene and street art. Finally, the Brain City Berlin is a leading location for science and research. It is home to a number of prestigious universities such as the Freie Universität Berlin, the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin and the Technische Universität Berlin, with more than 35,000 students each as well as renowned research institutions and think tanks.

Main industries / business

As the fourth largest economy of the world, Germany has a wide array of prestigious industries. Berlin is home to a diverse mix of economic activities: state-owned enterprises, creative industries, automotive manufacturers, (digital) media corporations, high-tech and telecommunication companies as well as multiple digital pioneers that flourish in the city’s vibrant start-up scene. Tourism is constantly growing and brings about 14 million visitors (2019) to the city every year.

Sources for city budget

Berlin draws its budget for public expenditure largely from taxes, federal transfers, fees, fines and operating revenues. It is spent not only to provide high quality public services, but also to boost the city’s private sector, civil society engagement and cultural life.

Political structure

The city-state Berlin is governed by the Berlin Senate, which is comprised of 10 senators, and the Governing Mayor. As the capital of Germany, Berlin hosts the Bundesregierung (federal government), the Bundestag (federal parliament) and the Bundesrat (the parliamentary chamber of the 16 Länder). Each of the 16 Länder has a representation in Berlin. On many political issues, the Länder have co-legislative powers vis-à-vis the Federal government. Moreover, Berlin hosts embassies from more than 120 countries from around the world.

Administrative structure

Berlin is administrated by the Senate and its 12 districts or boroughs (Bezirke). The Senate is the city’s central administration, in charge of city planning, public policy, and the regulation of public and private spheres. The district administrations have some decentralized public functions, with reasonable differences between the various localities.

Website

http://www.berlin.de

Background and objectives

The Kiezblock initiative draws inspiration from the Superblocks movement in Barcelona which aims to transform local neighborhoods into eco-friendly zones by 2030. Therefore, traffic calming and quality of life raising measures are implemented in the blocks of Barcelona´s grid pattern cityscape. In Berlin, "Kiez" refers to neighbourhoods in the local dialect.

The Kiezblock project was initially proposed of Changing Cities, an initiative that encouraged politicians and residents to suggest ideas for Kiezblocks in the Pankow district. Subsequently, in 2020, the local government approved the implementation of two of the proposed Kiezblocks.

Implementation

The project commenced in 2021 as a collaborative effort between the district administration, Technical University of Berlin, and Dresden University of Technology.

The primary stages involve:

developing a transportation plan for the neighborhood
awarding construction contracts by the district administration
revitalizing public spaces.

Additionally, the universities conduct an evaluation and support the local government by informing and participating the residents.

The aim of this project is to reinvigorate the street space of a neighborhood block by redefining it as a mixed-use area that prioritizes cyclists and pedestrians. This provides an opportunity for local citizens to enjoy and make use of the street space in new, sustainable ways.

It is important to note that residents and neighbours are still able to drive their cars within the block, but the street is redesigned to accommodate and encourage alternative modes of transportation. This creates a more inclusive and sustainable environment that benefits the entire community.

Emergency vehicles and delivery traffic can access all buildings within the Kiezblock. However, to ensure the safety of residents and promote a quieter residential environment, traffic-directing measures such as one-way streets or diagonal barriers have been implemented at selected intersections. These measures disallow continuous crossing of the neighborhood as shortcut by motor vehicles in case of traffic jam, and motorized through traffic is rerouted to the designated main roads outside the block.

This strategy not only improves safety, but also makes the streets within the Kiezblock more attractive and timesaving for pedestrians, cyclists, and local public transport. Delivery vehicles also benefit from the traffic-reduced side streets, which results in a smoother and more efficient delivery process.

By reducing automobile traffic within the neighborhood, harmful air and noise emissions are minimized, resulting in a cleaner and quieter environment. In addition to the benefits of reduced traffic, the quality of life for residents is improved through the introduction of new design elements for public spaces.

To encourage community participation and gather ideas for improving the quality of life in the area, a public competition was held. Residents were invited to submit proposals, and a range of innovative ideas were put forward. Among these were the installation of benches for resting, the planting of trees to combat heat islands, and the organization of street fairs to promote community interaction.

These proposals have been carefully considered and will be implemented as part of the Kiezblock Komponistenviertel project.

The implementation process is scheduled for May 2023.

Financing and resources

The lead agency for the project is the Pankow district administration with support from Technical University of Berlin and Dresden University of Technology.

The foundation of this project stems from the MobilBericht2 research, which received funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the Social-Ecological Research funding priority, with grant number 01UR2103. The authors of this publication hold responsibility for its content.

Results and impacts

An impact analysis conducted by Technical University of Berlin and Dresden University of Technology is in progress and will be completed in August 2023.

Barriers and challenges

The main barriers faced by the project included challenging administrative procedures, primarily stemming from traffic-calming measures not specified in German Transport law, a shortage of personnel, and a conservative public administration culture resistant to innovative ideas. These factors led to multiple delays in the project timeline.

It is anticipated that residents will primarily benefit from the implemented measures, so significant opposition has not yet emerged. While some individuals have expressed concerns and perceived drawbacks, there has been no organized resistance hindering the implementation process.

References

Schwedes, Oliver; Hausigke, Sven; Buchmann, Lisa (2021): Verkehrskonzept: Superblocks für Berlin. LINK

Hausigke, Sven; Buchmann, Lisa (2023): Kiezblocks – Mehr als nur Verkehrsberuhigung. Nachhaltige Mobilität bedeutet auch partizipative Gestaltung des öffentlichen Raums. PLANERIN 2/23 "City ReUse – Die Wiederverwendung der Stadt", S. 52-54.