Berlin
Mauerpark
Berlin, Germany / 01.2016 - 12.2019
The Berlin branch of PORR has served as general contractor for the construction of the colourful “Wohnen am Mauerpark” urban quarter comprising 5 individual neighbourhoods on a 3.5ha site in one of Berlin’s most symbolic locations. A total of 122 subsidised and 227 privately financed rental flats, 193 student housing units, 111 owner-occupied flats, commercial units, a day-care centre for 80 children and a public square have been built in blocks A to E. The quarter also features 42 age-friendly housing units and eleven housing consortium flats. Each block has its own underground car park.
Facts & Figures
Company
PORR GmbH & Co. KGaA
Type
Residential construction, Commercial building
Runtime
01.2016 - 12.2019
Transcending borders with contemporary urban planning
More housing, more green urban spaces
The Mauerpark is located in the border strip that extended along the Berlin Wall, erected in 1961. This section of the Wall used to run between the Berlin districts of Prenzlauer Berg in the East and Wedding in the West. While carrying out earthworks on the construction site, PORR discovered the remains of an escape tunnel from before the fall of the Wall. They were recovered and are now a valuable addition to the escape tunnel museum of the Berlin Underworlds Association. The Mauerpark is not a planned green space, but evolved spontaneously to become a recreation area for local residents who, shortly after the border was opened in 1989, were still sunbathing on the grassy areas in the shadow of the watchtowers, having picnics and playing with their children. The rich cultural scene at the Mauerpark also makes it a special place.
The 2012 urban development agreement on the partial development of the brownfield site and the expansion of the park from 8ha to 15ha explicitly stipulated that park-friendly uses such as the children’s farm, the flea market and the Mauerseglerkneipe bar should be preserved.
Diversity in architecture
Berlin is a vibrant city that never stops changing. The neighbourhoods that border the Mauerpark are especially known for their cosmopolitanism and diversity. Small boutiques and bookshops, a variety of restaurants and cafés, and a thriving cultural scene make the neighbourhood not only one of Berlin’s most fashionable hangouts, but also a sought-after residential area. This diversity is reflected in the architecture of the new housing quarter. Five different architectural firms were responsible for designing the individual blocks. Inner courtyards are laid out inside the blocks, and there are green front gardens in front of them. A public square with a single tall tree serves as a central meeting point for the neighbourhood.
The road infrastructure was a particular challenge for the PORR team at times during construction. Until access to the private roads was established, the construction sites could only be reached via the listed Gleimtunnel.
What ultimately counts in the construction business is successfully completed projects. PORR has many of these.
