An international urban and open space planning ideas contest is being to transform the former airfield at Berlin’s disused Tempelhof Airport [Deadline: 15 January 2025] The contest – organised by Berlin’s Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing – seeks concepts for ‘careful peripheral development’ in limited parts of the airfield which has been used as an important public park following conversion by McGregor Coxall in 2010 Open to teams of architect, urban designers and landscape architects – the competition aims to pomote discussion around the potential redevelopment of parts of the 400ha airfield in the context of Berlin’s deepening housing crisis and has already been met with criticism from campaigners The call for concepts comes ten years after a referendum vetoed proposals for partial development of the site based on competition-winning proposals by Sutherland Hussey Harris (SHH) and landscape architect Gross Max According to the brief: ‘When flight operations at Tempelhof Airport ceased in 2008 the area of ​​the former Tempelhof Airport was closed to the public for two years one of the most important inner-city open spaces in Berlin was created which has since served the Berlin population as a sports recreation and leisure area as well as an important social space ‘The area has been protected from change since 2014 by the law for the preservation of Tempelhofer Feld which was passed by a majority of Berliners in a referendum the governing coalition in the state of Berlin has agreed and the House of Representatives has approved to initiate a new city-wide debate on the future of Tempelhofer Feld.’ Constructed in 1927 and expanded during the 1930s the iconic eagle-shaped airport was shut down in 2008 and transformed into a 400-hectare public park The former airport was used as an emergency refugee camp in 2016 In 2016, Berlin’s senate held a competition for a £4.3 million overhaul of Tempelhof Airport’s former air traffic control tower as part of plans to gradually open large parts of the building and its roof surfaces to the public Judges for the latest contest will include the urban planner and architect Tim von Winning the Zürich-based landscape architect Maren Brakebusch and the Berlin architect and professor Petra Kahlfeldt The competition features a €317,500 prize fund and its official language is German Up to 20 shortlisted teams will be invited to participate in the design phase following an open call for applications Why are you seeking an urban and public space planning contest for the Tempelhof Field Since the referendum on Tempelhofer Field was held in 2014 Berlin is experiencing a significantly worsened housing crisis In order to counter this with constructing more affordable housing the Senate of Berlin has to check every publicly owned area for suitability Nevertheless the referendum created a special situation in which the Senate deems it appropriate to participate the citizens of Berlin before taking action The participation process started in July 2024 with a youth participation and concluded its first phase with two full weekend participation workshops with randomly chosen citizens in September The ideas competition is a further step in the process It is held according to regulation of the German Architectural Chamber We hope the contest’s participants will qualify the workshop results and the agreements of the existing coalition agreement with their professional knowledge as planners What is your vision of the future of this important public space in the context of a deepening housing crisis With the help of the international competition for ideas we hope to find a variety of ideas and different visions for the future of the Tempelhof Field the Tempelhof Field offers the potential to play an important role in coping with the deepening housing crisis There is a shortage of publicly owned properties suitable for creating new affordable housing The competition for ideas and the participation process serve to investigate whether and to what extent the Tempelhof Field may play a role in addressing the housing crisis What sort of teams would you like to see step forward for this unique opportunity Since we are looking for a wide range of visions for the future of the Tempelhofer Field there are no preferences in what kind of team should participate in the competition The competition is open to all individual offices or teams that cover the disciplines of architecture urban planning and/or landscape architecture Teams may be comprised of experts from any of these three disciplines For a holistic take on this extraordinarily complex task a joint venture of all three professions architecture urban planning and landscape architecture would be most desirable Tags Hutchison Ports is recruiting a design team for its new £9 million… An open international contest is being held for a major €27.5 million… An international design and build contest is being held for 25 new… The UK Research and Innovation Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) has… there is no better place than here to feel the weight of history and the addictive energy of one of the world's most vibrant and libertine cities There are few places where your morning jog or Sunday lunch plans take you to the abandoned runways and sprawling tarmac of a decommissioned airfield. But here in Berlin, Tempelhofer Feld has become a playground that embodies the city that holds it you might see Syrian asylum seekers playing football outside a Nazi-era terminal bikers cycling under the shadow of an abandoned 75m radar station and families barbecuing next to grounded Cold War-era aeroplanes Like many places in this richly textured city there's much more to the site than meets the eye Tempelhof (as the former airport was known and as most Berliners call the site) has played a starring role in some of Europe's deepest horrors and greatest triumphs present and future of the city constantly converse and negotiate with each other You go to the Brandenburg Gate or Berlin Wall to see Berlin but you go to Tempelhof to fall in love with it In a city that's always becoming and never being there is no better place than here for travellers to feel the spirit of one of the world's most vibrant and libertine capitals and to truly understand why people find it so addictive Tempelhof is so immense that its 10 entrances fall within three neighbourhoods in southern Berlin To soak in the full scale of a space that's twice the size of Monaco follow Herrfurthstrasse's cobblestones down a bustling stretch of graffiti-tagged cafes and bars to the park's eastern entrance in the district of Neukölln it's kite-surfers and in-line skaters flying down the runway the mammoth terminal building shrunken in the distance Tempelhof's eastern entrance is one of the best places in Berlin to catch a sunset, so bring a blanket, grab a few späti drinks along Herrfurthstrasse and follow the stream of Berliners into the park "When I have family or friends visiting I definitely show them this place," said Berliner Oumi Janta "Where else in the world do you find an abandoned or closed airport where you can just walk – or in my case creating a spontaneous neighbourhood that never feels too crowded The park can (and does) hold every cross-section imaginable of the city's residents from hard-nosed Berliners and queer refugees to Turkish grandparents and harried flatmates who just want to chill out with a book "The space is not just like a historical site; it's become some sort of place of entertainment, excitement," said Lukas Staudinger, co-founder of POLIGONAL which hosts "exploratory" walking tours of Berlin's most architecturally significant areas "It's a space for sub-cultural practices It's a space for many different things which only nest there and nowhere else in the whole area." a city synonymous with DIY creativity and cultural experimentation born from historical turbulence People come to this city to stare Nazi Germany in the face to touch the concrete wall that cleaved the world in two and to bask in the city's legendary free-wheeling spirit and anything-goes attitude these elements collide in a tangible way at Tempelhof Round the 4.3-mile loop and you're likely to see people downing pilsners in the re-wilded meadow and unicyclists plying the runway "The vastness of the site… produces an almost overwhelming sense of space," reads a city brochure "The effect is liberating; the independent citizen becomes a creative explorer once again."  Janta wouldn't be who she is today without Tempelhof, as the site's sheer size gave her room to move and the confidence to dance on wheels. This is essentially the story of modern Berlin. Ever since Berliners swarmed the Wall with sledgehammers in 1989 and the world watched as people high on freedom danced in the street and live-and-let-live ethos has inspired a flurry of artistic improvisation and lured young people eager for room to play "As soon as I feel the smooth pavement of the Tempelhofer Feld under my feet it's like the cherry on the cake of skating."  So when the city placed the future of the site to a public vote in 2014 as many as 90% of residents in some districts voted to protect their new greenspace Tempelhof's transformation into a public gathering space may be a recent one but it's actually a return to its deepest roots And if you keep your eyes open as you explore and gazing out on the meadow that's left unmowed to attract bees it's easy to imagine Berliners flocking to picnic and watch moustachioed Weimar-era soldiers marching in step as their brass instruments glinted in the sun grassy expanse is also where some of the world's first pilots tested their aeroplane prototypes – including Orville Wright who embarked on a record-setting one-hour flight from Tempelhof's lawn in 1909 Tempelhof gets its name because it was built on a site used by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages an Allied supply plane took off or landed at Tempelhof every 45 seconds delivering a total of 2.3 million tons of food and fuel to save two million West Berliners from starvation in what was considered the largest humanitarian operation in history if you follow a dirt path from the north side of the runway that carried people like Dr Martin Luther King Jr and President John F Kennedy to Berlin during the Cold War you can find the last aeroplane at Tempelhof: a Douglas Skytrain C-47 used during the Berlin Airlift "Every aspect of the history of Tempelhof you can see there; you can really go there and see why this place in this period of time was so important for the city and also actually for the world," said Diego Cadenas, a volunteer with the advocacy group 100% Tempelhofer Feld In a twist of irony, decades after Tempelhof was conceived by the Nazis, the airport reprised its Cold War role as a lifeline for those in need by becoming Europe's biggest refugee camp And in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic the airport's grounds became a vaccination site – a role reminiscent of its brief life as a field hospital during the 19th-Century's Franco-Prussian War "[It's] a particularly special place because how much history it holds," said Cindy Brzostowski "All it takes is a look down to remember that you're on a runway with years and years' worth of stories."  providing an inclusive space for Berliners old "Skating [here] is always a great feeling," said Janta I just take deep breath and enjoy this feeling Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter called "The Essential List". 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LOGIN Downloadable PDFs are a benefit of an FP subscription This article is an Insider exclusive Contact us at [email protected] to learn about upgrade options unlocking the ability to gift this article BERLIN—There are few places that tell Berlin’s—and modern Germany’s—story better than Tempelhof Airport Born just before the horrors of the Nazi regime and later occupied by both the Russians and the Americans As the sun sets over the abandoned runways only children’s kites are left flying here Two years after the last plane touched down in 2008 the airport grounds opened to the public and have since hosted techno raves refugees—the first ones as early as the 1950s when Germans escaped the Soviet-occupied east Some people lived in the hangars in propped-up rooms with thin walls and curtains instead of doors for two years Tempelhof opened up again,” explained Sascha Langenbach spokesperson at the State Office for Refugee Affairs in Berlin “We are currently hosting 850 asylum-seekers in the hangars many of them from Afghanistan and Turkey,” he said adding that there are at least another 1,000 people in containers outside many of them Ukrainian refugees who already hold residence permits has since improved: The new containers at least have roofs and doors A Nazi-era eagle’s head remains as a monument outside the former departure hall at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin on Feb Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images it became a forced-labor facility to support the Luftwaffe The terminal was bombed twice during the war After the war, the Soviets occupied Tempelhof, albeit only briefly. When Berlin was divided into four occupation zones, the airport went to the Americans but was essentially surrounded by Soviet territory. The Americans removed reminders of the Nazi regime, built a basketball court and cinema inside the hangars to entertain their troops, and later, between 1948 and 1949, operated the Berlin Airlift delivering food for a total of 322 days to 2 million West Berliners cut off from supplies by a Russian land blockade Germany took control of commercial flights again in 1951 but the war had left the nation—and Berlin—divided and defeated its image tainted by the atrocities of the Nazis A constant flow of refugees tried to escape Soviet-rule in the east and many passed through the airport that stood as a witness to it all At least 13 airplanes from Soviet territory landed at Tempelhof without permission the pilots and passengers seeking asylum in West Berlin new airports on Berlin’s outskirts had already started to replace services here Years after it eventually closed to air traffic a referendum was held to decide whether the area—prime real estate close to the city center—should be redeveloped to help Berlin cope with a growing housing crisis The majority of Berliners voted against it which is why Tempelhof essentially remains as it was when flight operations ceased Tempelhof is one of the most liberal places in the city,” said Johanna Scheurer who lives close by and cycled over to the runway after work to meet a few friends for an evening beer forget the busy city.” Other visitors whiz by on bicycles or roller skates families gather for barbecues or to play mini-golf Templehof has starred on the silver screen Three and later as a set for the Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 1 it was transformed into a vaccination site Seven-year-old Artem Kozak (right) from Odesa celebrates his birthday with other children in front of container accommodations at the former Tempelhof Airport on Aug From the opposite side of the 2-kilometer runway Tempelhof’s hangars are barely visible in the distance Many of those who live inside them today escaped more recent invasions The containers that line the hangars are cramped: Four people packed into about 130 square feet “It’s smaller than the standard size of 161 square feet for two people,” explained Peter Hermmans head of communications at the Berlin International Federation one of the organizations managing the Tempelhof shelter Among the people living in the hangars as well as in containers just outside the building—mostly Ukrainians Abdul Khaluq sits in the container he shares with three other Afghan men on a tarmac of the former Tempelhof Airport in Berlin on Aug escaped Afghanistan shortly before the Taliban took over the country for a second time and too many of his friends had been killed so he cobbled together his savings and paid a smuggler to take him to neighboring Iran He eventually arrived in Germany by walking from Bulgaria after he had paid another smuggler to take him there from Turkey “It’s difficult to live in the airport,” he said sitting at the small table in his container He doesn’t speak German or English and until his asylum case has been approved he has little opportunity to take a government-funded language course but it’s still better than being in Afghanistan right now “Tempelhof is for everyone today,” said Fatih Cilek a 34-year-old Kurdish man sitting on a bench near the old runway looking toward the hangars where Khaluq lives Cilek fled Turkey and also arrived in Germany as an asylum-seeker but admits that he misses his family and the Mediterranean aircraft—used during the Berlin Airlift and sitting at the former Tempelhof Airport on Aug 10—the “raisin bomber” because crews used to drop small packages of candy for children Stefanie Glinski is a journalist based in Istanbul. 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Unlock powerful intelligence for your team. the airport famous for its Nazi and cold war history became a green public paradise It’s never easy to ask someone to give back a gift politicians asked Berliners to do exactly that with Tempelhof the former airport turned much loved communal area Famous as the lifeline for West Berlin during the cold war Tempelhof’s airfield had become the German capital’s biggest park Since it was turned over to the public in May 2010 the site has been immensely popular with families hipsters and layabouts; smoke rises in summer from the abundance of barbecues But there was always a niggling suspicion that the fun couldn’t last – that Tempelhof’s unique status as a hugely valuable piece of land essentially given over to the average picnicking Berliner was too good to be true “No other city would treat itself to such a crown jewel [of open space],” said Ingo Gräning of Tempelhof Projekt as he surveyed the runways and frostbitten green from the terminal roof ‘No other city would allow itself such a crown jewel of public space’ .. Tempelhof park with the air traffic control tower in the background Photograph: Ciarán FaheyThe last three aeroplanes flew out of Tempelhof in November 2008 a month after the airport’s official closure The 72m radar tower is still used by the German army to monitor flight traffic 300,000 sq m including hangars that curve out 1.23km under a column-free roof – said to be the biggest protected building in the world – is mostly leased out which took over the airport after the second world war there is Berlin’s traffic control authority a dancing school and one of the city’s oldest revue theatres – just some of more than 100 businesses and institutions that call the former airport home plans were mooted for new commercial areas and offices the latter a pet project of former Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit Planners promised they’d only build on 25% of the site leaving 230 free hectares; politicians promised the new apartments would include affordable housing Tempelhof’s classic design has made it a favourite for large events Photograph: Ciarán FaheyNot everyone was buying it “This government hasn’t built a single social apartment for 10 years – are they going to start right when park-side real estate opens up?” John Riceburg asked in Exberliner magazine no guarantees,” gathered enough signatures to force the city into holding a referendum after months of bitter debate and despite a campaign backed by much of the media 64.3% of voters chose to keep Tempelhof as it is Politicians were left red-faced and investors empty-handed “It’s a defeat and it’s a clear one,” said Wowereit “The wonder is that Berlin still carries on,” wrote Ulf Poschardt deputy editor of conservative newspaper Die Welt hippie culture is state policy'Die Welt deputy editor Ulf PoschardtThe rhetoric may be overblown but the remarkable fact is that Berlin will ultimately not further develop a hugely valuable piece of real estate all because the people decided they didn’t trust big business not to mess up the park they loved It’s a state of affairs that would be almost unimaginable in Frankfurt or Munich But the capital has always been special in this respect “Berlin is a pioneer in re-using buildings that were left over after the division of the city,” Tempelhof Projekt chief Gerhard W Steindorf says citing techno club Tresor as an example of a successful metamorphosis And Tempelhof has a raw charm that people like Tempelhof has already played host to major events Seven hangars – the smallest capable of holding 2,000 people the largest 3,800 – have hosted extravagant automobile industry unveilings while the glitzy Bundespresseball (Federal Press Ball) took place in the 3,500 sq m main hall last year Tempelhof will host a Formula E race in May and Europe’s first Lollapalooza music festival in September “Now that the field’s future is safe we can continue to have more events like that,” said Steindorf still excited by memories of Die Toten Hosen (The Dead Trousers) playing to 50,000 in 2013 Lovingly tended by green-fingered apartment-dwellers grateful to break free of their four walls the allotments are often adorned with old couches for gardeners to entertain visitors; others have no gardens but bring their couches anyway The conservation law means the Tempelhof airfield will remain largely as it is “The plan is to develop the park with direct community involvement but there are restrictions on what can be done New buildings are out of the question,” Steindorf says the terminal building will be developed while respecting its protected status Steindorf is excited by plans for studios and recording facilities offices for start-ups and the general conversation process into a “campus for creatives” He adds that no apartments will be built at Tempelhof “as long as the conservation law exists,” and though he respects the referendum result he laments a missed opportunity to build cheaply on public land A Tempelhof partier Photograph: Ciarán Fahey“There are other areas available but they’re usually in private hands and not central The whole Tempelhof site belongs to the city of Berlin This was the chance for affordable housing,” he said Another 250,000 people are expected to move to the city by 2020.” it is undeniable that distrust was a key factor in shooting down the city’s proposals Steindorf argues that public representatives did work hard to keep costs down with cheaper housing on lower floors crowned by the more expensive variety above “We don’t want people driving long distances to work We’ve seen what happens in other large cities We need to avoid traffic and people living outside the city in sleepy satellite towns,” Steindorf said “Berlin did what it could but the chance wasn’t taken ‘We don’t want it.’ It was an emotional decision But I’m not sure if people wanted Tempelhof to stay exactly the way it is.” The public has until 14 March to put forward ideas for the recreational development of Tempelhofer Feld though their wildest dreams will be kept in check by the Tempelhof Conservation Act This prohibits construction anywhere on the former airfield and ensures only limited development no trees can be planted within a large inner circle as were fenced-off areas for insects – 112 spider and 68 beetle species have been identified at Tempelhof Tempelhof could not be mistaken for anything other than an airport Runway signs and markings have attained reverence among the revellers; an aeroplane once used for training by fire services provides a unique perch for resting birds including hawks; and information signs inform visitors about episodes from Tempelhof’s history That history is part of what makes Templehof so unique The Prussian army was conducting manoeuvres here as far back as 1722 while Germany’s oldest active football club Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin flew one of his airships overhead on 29 August 1909; five days later 150,000 people watched Orville Wright fly eight laps An old aeroplane at Tempelhof Photograph: Ciarán FaheyThe German airline Lufthansa grew out of Tempelhof in the 1920s and by 1930 Tempelhof was handling more passengers than any other airport in Europe Hermann Göring took over the aviation industry: Lufthansa planes had swastikas on their tails until 1945 The Nazis created a concentration camp at Tempelhof an early prototype closed in 1936 to make way for the new airport promoted by Hitler Tempelhof became famous for the Berlin airlift in 1948-49 when the western allies responded to a Soviet blockade of land routes into West Berlin by flying 2.3 million tonnes of freight into the divided city Tempelhof became Germany’s busiest airport an important departure point for East Germans fleeing the Soviet sector until the Berlin Wall sealed the border in 1961 civilian traffic was transferred to Tegel airport in West Berlin’s French sector but the US military continued to use Tempelhof after German reunification until 1993 when it was handed over to the Berlin airport authority the airport had come to symbolise freedom on the frontline of the cold war Tours of the terminal building are popular with visitors fascinated by the airport’s Nazi and cold war history; the park itself is named Tempelhofer Freiheit the development plans were perceived as a threat to this spirit Berliners had had their taste of freedom; in hindsight it is no surprise that they refused to give it back The colossal airport straddles Neukölln and Tempelhof — neighbourhoods approximately 4 kilometers The airport's main building was once one of the largest structures in Europe and it was crowned "the mother of all airports" by British architect Norman Foster the airport officially closed on October 30 the airport is being used as a massive refugee camp with space for up to 7,000 migrants We went on a tour of the airport led by a guide named Celine Gilly: they set about redesigning Berlin. Tempelhof was designed to wow visitors to the new Third Reich capital of Germania It represents the monumental thinking behind Nazi architecture and it's a landmark in civil engineering Berliners flocked to the airfield to see early airships and balloons being tested that the Humboldt balloon was launched on its maiden voyage on March 1 The successful flight inspired several other balloon excursions to study the atmosphere an airship lieutenant assisted numerous professors and doctors.  Architect Ernst Sagebiel was commissioned to design the airport in 1935 and construction began the following year. Sagebiel introduced many innovative features that went on to be copied elsewhere including separate levels for passengers and luggage it was also used for a Forumla E race.  and it's safe to say that someone has probably done it here at some point.  The fact that the site is so widely used by the public today is apt given that it was used by Berliners for picnics and sport long before it housed an airport.  the site has also been used for horse racing and football. BFC Frankfurt was formed at Tempelhof in 1885 and Berliner FC Germania was founded in 1888 and remains Germany's oldest active football club The canopy-style roof relies on a cantilever system to stop it from collapsing Hitler also wanted it to be able to both shelter travellers and accommodate 100,000 people during Luftwaffe air shows and military parades as the 13 staircase towers designed to take people up to the roof were never finished.  Other things that never came to fruition at Tempelhof include a waterfall Hitler also had even more grandiose plans that involved building a giant stadium around Tempelhof with the potential to accommodate a million people The shelter rooms still contain original paintings from the war that were designed to distract children from the chaos above The German airline Lufthansa used the labour force for maintenance The forced labourers were freed by the Red Army in 1945 as World War II came to an end the Red Army handed the airport over to US forces the airport came into operation again.   The US Air Force built a white radio tower at Tempelhof for surveillance purposes.  and Soviet military forces divided and occupied Germany. Berlin which was also divided into occupation zones was located far inside Soviet-controlled eastern Germany There was initially an alliance between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union in Berlin and water access to parts of Berlin that were controlled by the Western Allies "The United States and United Kingdom responded by airlifting food and fuel to Berlin from Allied airbases in western Germany," the US Office of The Historian website says when Soviet forces lifted the blockade on land access to western Berlin." Tempelhof was used as the takeoff and landing site for the "raisin bombers" that provided the people of West Berlin with vital supplies They also used mini-parachutes to drop 22 tons of candy for the children of Berlin which led to their becoming known as the "candy bombers" A plane landed every minute at Tempelhof, and about 2.3 million tonnes of freight was flown into the divided city, according to The Guardian Almost 80 pilots died in crashes The airport eventually ended up with many of the things that are commonplace in airports today Reagan visited June 11, 1982, as tensions between East Berlin and West Berlin mounted He advocated more military power and an arms buildup instead of an easing of tensions.  the Americans removed a 5-metre sculpture of an eagle perched on a globe from the main terminal roof and replaced it with radar equipment The eagle's head now sits outside the terminal building Tempelhof started to operate domestic flights once again the US Air Force handed the airport over to the Berliner Flughafengesellschaft and it was used on and off for commercial purposes until November 2008 In 2011, city planners wanted to build commercial areas and offices, 4,700 homes, and a large public library, according to The Guardian The planners said they would take up no more than 25% of the site and stressed that there would be a focus on social housing while also leaving 230 hectares free in the middle and the 100% Tempelhofer Feld initiative gained enough signatures to force the city to hold a referendum.  after years of fighting, 64.3% of eligible voters chose to keep the Tempelhof site unchanged That means the Tempelhof park has to stay as it is until 2024 The refugees live in cubicle-type structures with little privacy and the lights are either on or off for everyone living in the refugee camp is like living in a train station but there is a refugee cafe in Hanger 1 the public can visit and provide German lessons "The plan is to develop the park with direct community involvement but there are restrictions on what can be done," Tempelhof project chief Gerhard Steindorf said You will need to sign in or create a Formula E account The ever-present German round on the calendar is getting a big shake up for the new season with a new layout and a new test to tackle at Tempelhof on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 May Berlin has been the only ever-present location on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Calendar Aside from a street circuit in the country’s capital the all-electric championship has raced around the iconic Tempelhof Airport on 17 occasions As well as being host to the Berlin E-Prix the venue became a unique destination for the championship when it held six races during nine days over the pandemic at the end of Season 6 The most recent layout used in 2023 was a 2.355km track that generated an incredible 362 overtakes over the two days of racing - including eight different race leaders which was a new record for Formula E with a longer circuit and even more corners for this new season Over two days of action on Saturday 11 May and Sunday 12 May Formula E will be racing on the modified 2.585km layout with 15 stunning corners and several longer straights The changes have been brought in as a result of development work at the Tempelhof Airport with Formula E’s track designers seizing the opportunity to create a new layout for the circuit Tempelhof is already a challenge for the drivers due to the abrasive track surface meaning they really have to nurse their Hankook tyres on the asphalt this improved layout also means drivers will have to juggle more technical elements and their energy management even more closely FIA said: “The new Berlin Tempelhof layout retains all the soul of the old circuit while presenting new challenges for drivers and teams – putting skill behind the wheel as well as efficiency and energy consumption truly to the test medium and slow-speed corners will give rise to a number of different set-up choices handing the advantage to different drivers in different parts of the lap while two major overtaking zones mean exciting races are guaranteed!” Fans can still enjoy all the specialities the Berlin round has to offer including live music performances racing simulators in the gaming arena and so much more The famous podium has also been relocated for Season 10 moving into the heart of the Allianz Fan Village so everyone can be part of the driver’s winning celebrations the Berlin E-Prix and its iconic location at Tempelhof Airport has always been a great and firm asset to our championship,” Claudia Denni “The new layout for Season 10 will create the right conditions for an even more thrilling race technical track and potential for higher top speeds on the sporting event preparation and delivery Formula E will continue to be supported by the DMSB and the professional sporting club ADAC which we take the opportunity to thank for their loyalty and affection to our electric series.” The story of Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport never quite ends Located just south of the city’s hip Kreuzberg neighborhood and only fifteen minutes by bike from the city center, the disused former Nazi complex—with its terminal, hangars, and massive airfield—occupies nearly 1,000 acres of prime real estate in the ever-growing German capital. In any other metropolis, this land would have been snatched up by a developer years ago, but in Berlin creative reuse has prevailed over conventional narratives of redevelopment landing at Tempelhof during the Berlin Airlift This era of the airport’s history is most fondly remembered by area residents who gathered just outside of Tempelhof as children to catch handkerchief packages of chocolate and raisins dropped from incoming American aircraft the expanse of land continued to engender fear of inequitable redevelopment—a private investor could scoop it up at any second to build luxury apartments (and many tried to) Even plans from the city to build much-needed affordable housing were met with suspicion; as John Riceburg wrote in Exberliner magazine “this government hasn't built a single social apartment for 10 years—are they going to start right when park-side real estate opens up?” You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information 2017 at 12:16 PM ESTBookmarkSaveIf one city proves the importance of a good airport where the tumultuous 20th century scattered a trail of three flughaefen from east to west From Orville Wright to the Nazis and the infamous Berlin Airlift Tempelhof has been ground zero for some momentous events in 20th-century history we’d like to thank you for joining the debate - we’re glad you’ve chosen to participate and we value your opinions and experiences Please choose your username under which you would like all your comments to show up Please keep your posts respectful and abide by the community guidelines - and if you spot a comment you think doesn’t adhere to the guidelines, please use the ‘Report’ link next to it to let us know. Please preview your comment below and click ‘post’ when you’re happy with it. Dovrai accedere o creare un account Formula E. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will continue to be held at Berlin Tempelhof Airport for the next two years. An extended contract has been signed and was marked by the visit of the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey to the 2022 Shell Recharge Berlin E-Prix Round 8 on Sunday at Tempelhofer Feld. Mayor Giffey also awarded Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) the winner's trophy on the podium post-race. She met Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman of Formula E, Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer and Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E pre-race on the grid. “We are delighted that the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is taking place in our capital for the eighth time," said the Mayor. "Berlin is the only city that has been on the racing calendar every year since the inaugural season in 2014 and the iconic Tempelhof Airport provided the venue for the event for the seventh time this weekend. "The track has quickly become one of the most well-known racetracks in Formula E, and I am therefore delighted that it has been contractually secured that Formula E will also take place on the Tempelhof site for the next two years.“ "Formula E not only offers us exciting electric racing, but is also an important platform to promote technological and sustainable innovations that can facilitate our transition to a greener and electric future," Giffey added. Once a Nazi Landmark"You have the exhilarating feeling that you’re doing something Hitler wouldn’t have wanted you to do." Save Tempelhof, 1937 (Stockholm Transport Museum)This week millions will take to the airways for Christmas travel As families slog through the mundane reality of contemporary air travel we might pause to reflect on the ghosts of airports past and how they can reinvent themselves in the present the original site of Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport was conceived is an airport turned inside out: a masterpiece of adaptive reuse and a powerful rebuke to the demons of Germany’s past Ernst Sagebiel began expanding an existing airfield in 1934 as the first architectural salvo in Hitler’s creation of Welthauptstadt Germania (World Capital Germania) brash fascist style infuses the aesthetic of what was at the time the largest building in Europe it was much more spacious than it needed to be: only a small part of the facility was ever actually used The façade’s simple and powerful rows of limestone columns were intended to convey the regime’s purity and indestructible force The terminal building features a 1,200-meter-long arc of hangars beneath a massive roof that seems magically cantilevered out over the landing bays an innovation that protected embarking and disembarking passengers from the elements The design was meant to suggest an eagle in flight with the semicircular hangars representing the bird’s spread wings A breathtakingly massive entrance hall exemplifies the Third Reich’s aspirations of grandeur: “The mother of all modern airports,” Sir Norman Foster called it this extravagantly preening complex embodied the Nazis’ most heinous iniquities the only SS concentration camp within Berlin forced labor was conscripted to produce combat aircraft Tempelhof became associated with liberation instead of tyranny: it became the main landing field for “Operation Vittles,” the 1948-49 Berlin airlift The Western Allies countered the Soviet blockade with 200,000 shipments of fuel and food that kept the city alive—in a remarkably massive effort of efficient planning and coordination Dick Kramer’s 1987 mural commemorating Berlin’s heroic resistance and America’s Cold War machismo still hangs in Tempelhof opened in 1948 to provide extra capacity for the airlift All three airports operated commercially until 1975 when Pan Am and British Airways abandoned Tempelhof for Tegel which had longer runways and more modern facilities; Tempelhof remained active only as a U.S It reopened commercially for short commuter flights in 1981 German aviation officials planned to close Tempelhof and Tegel leaving only a single Berlin airport—appropriate to the newly unified city and country A field just adjacent to Schönefeld was developed as Berlin Brandenberg Willy Brandt Airport (a project that has been plagued by inefficiencies and construction flaws and is already two years past its announced opening date) which seems like a perfect comeuppance to the fascist hubris of its beginnings It is a big waste of space; its bloated monumentality founders The site is close to central Berlin—only a 15-minute bike ride from the Tiergarten and baseball diamonds host leagues of amateur sports teams and pick-up games A grillplatz (barbecue area) accommodates hundreds of families emitting thick clouds of smoke that recall—at least for someone forcing a trenchant historical juxtaposition—the airplane exhaust from when it was a working airport though these fumes are much less noxious and more inviting than jet emissions This smoke bears the aroma of a new Berlin: its odors are equal parts brats and kebabs; there’s a large Turkish mosque and cultural center right next to the airfield I’ve never seen such a diverse mix of people anywhere else in Berlin; Turks Asians (there’s a Hindu Temple down the street) and Western Europeans seem so comfortable together It’s as if the newness of this space makes it a blank slate so there are no traditions of exclusion here Every single kid here is happy—how often can you say that at a “real” airport This is an immensely large space—which makes it all the more promising as a breeding-ground for the communities of the future You could put a half-dozen more baseball fields in and still not make a dent in the footprint Certainly you realize that an airport is a significant chunk of real estate when you’re on an airplane pushing back from the gate and moving down the taxiway But until you’ve been to Tempelhofer Freiheit you’ve almost certainly never experienced airport space on a human scale There is enough room here to do just about anything. the fields would be subject to meticulous “grass management” regulations to ensure that the grasslands don’t grow higher than six inches (otherwise birds begin to forage and pose bird strike hazards to aircraft) You feel keenly aware of how you’re not supposed to be there And you’re not going to get hit by a plane—though if you’re not careful there is so much room at Tempelhof: plenty of space for everyone to do his or her own thing There’s something cool and liberating about being where you’re not supposed to be: I’ve felt this walking through New York City’s High Line a vertical park recycled from a disused elevated freight rail line and in Paris’s earlier iteration of that concept People aren’t supposed to be perambulating through these places railways and airports are called “public works,” but generally they work only if the public is kept away everyone has free range of places humans aren’t supposed to inhabit And the transgressive experience is more amazing than anywhere else because as you walk outside the air palace meant to serve the glories of the Third Reich you have the exhilarating feeling that you’re doing something Hitler wouldn’t have wanted you to do rather than someplace people have to transit through to get somewhere else designed for what was supposed to be simply the technical infrastructure of transportation has blossomed into a playground of the human spirit the mythos of lebensraum—all have been defused and cleansed by people using the space for the opposite of what it was meant to be used for and of fascinating tensions between the vital idealism of the present and the turbulent history of the recent past Recycling and recreative projects like Tempelhofer Freiheit happen slowly as they should—Berliners need to think carefully about the symbolism and the moral implications whenever they build the oddly-named Topography of Terror is a new museum and memorial center built—after three decades of deliberations plans started and abandoned and reconsidered—on the site of the Gestapo administration building You can imagine how that project raised some hackles—reopening Gestapo Headquarters gray-box design embodies everything the Nazis hated in architecture but the entire project underscores how charged public spaces can be in this city Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Courtesy: Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur Bonn; © Bernar Venet Berlin artists have been protesting against the temporary use of the city’s former Tempelhof airport for privately organised exhibitions The protesters say that the shows do not serve the interests of the city’s artists or its art scene They also criticise the “secret” decision-making processes that led to the exhibitions mounted by a private foundation Bernar Venet with some of his work on show at the Kunsthalle Berlin Photo: Daniel Biskup Courtesy: Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur Bonn The protesting artists say Smerling “does not have the support of Berlin’s artists and cultural workers at large”. The BBK says using the name “Kunsthalle” is “fraudulent labelling”. The association also says that for Smerling's last exhibition at Tempelhof, called Diversity United, the artists did not receive a fee despite the organisers “receiving a fat million in public subsidies from the Foreign Ministry”. And in an article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper, the journalist Niklas Maak pointed out that the sight of 12 white men standing in front of a painting by Anselm Kiefer at the opening of Diversity United last year contradicted the title of the exhibition. Instead of diversity, he wrote, it gave the impression of an “old boys’ club”. At a press conference for the opening of the Venet exhibition, Smerling said he is “open to dialogue”, rejected accusations that the decision-making process was opaque, and said he did not think a boycott was the right way to protest against the temporary Kunsthalle. But the photographer Tobias Zielony points out that the airport belongs to the city. “The city should decide what happens there, and this really wasn’t a democratic decision”, he says. “I think the main question is: how did this two-year contract come into being?” here's what to see in the reigning contemporary art hub this week You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Thousands of Berliners come to Tempelhof on warm summer evenings Berlin's Tempelhof Field used to be a massive airport It's famous as the site of the Berlin airlift — the effort in 1948-49 to keep West Berlin fed and supplied during a Soviet blockade Riding to the end of one of Tempelhof's former runways is a serious workout erected recently in one corner of Tempelhof Field Tempelhof was the site of early experiments in aviation Become an NPR sponsor The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads to Germany and Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport Circuit at the historic Tempelhofer Feld for a double-header and Rounds 7 & 8 of the 2023/23 campaign on 22 & 23 April as Season 9 heads towards its half-way mark Formula E’s 11 teams and 22 world-class drivers return to the German capital – a fixture on the calendar since the inaugural 2014/15 season – after three new events on the spin to tackle the unique challenge of the historic airfield's technical circuit and tricky track surface over two rounds WATCH: Find out how to tune in live where you are As it stands, TAG Heuer Porsche's Pascal Wehrlein leads the Drivers' World Championship table as he has done since Saudi Arabia, with 86 points, a Diriyah win double and a Mexico City podium from the opening six rounds SYNC: Don't miss a minute of Season 9 They find themselves 42 and 46 points from top spot in the Drivers' table though there's half-a-season of racing still to come - and in Formula E Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing) and Lucas di Grassi (Mahindra Racing) have taken to the top step at Tempelhof more than once in Formula E Reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne is yet to get the most out of the DS PENSKE - unlike teammate Vergne - and sits 11th in the standings Retaining the title is now looking more of a distant dream than a potential reality The net zero carbon race series returns to the 2.4km Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit on the outskirts of the German capital city Berlin is the only city to have hosted a race in every season of Formula E - 16 total In all but one of those seasons – Season 2 when the German round took place near Alexanderplatz – Tempelhofer Feld has been the host venue TICKETS: Secure your seat at Tempelhof It’s a unique challenge for the teams and drivers but one they relish – and a favourite of many higher than usual degradation and high grip takes a toll on energy management and makes race strategies a headache but the action is always among the best on the calendar “Berlin is a unique race event for the championship - some long and fast corners and an unusual track surface," says Jaguar TCS Racing Technical Manager Phil Charles "I call the surface ‘pebblemac’ as it is actually made up of large concrete blocks with stones - the pebbles - pressed into the top surface These stones are aggressive on the tyres and although it is a short lap the percentage of time spent cornering is quite high so car setups need to compliment the corner type and the unique cycle the tyres see it's a tricky energy management race so there is plenty to think about in Berlin but it’s a great track to go to!” Sebastien Buemi has six podium finishes in Berlin Antonio Felix da Costa is one of three drivers to have two wins to his name at Tempelhof The Porsche driver’s came at the Season 6 finale as he hammered home his advantage to take the title Lucas di Grassi won here with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in 2019 and signed off on Audi’s first spell in Formula E with another win on home soil for the brand in Season 7 Reigning champion Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) strode to victory in the last race of Season 6 at Tempelhof Free Practice 1 for the SABIC Berlin E-Prix Round 7 gets underway at 17:00 local time on Friday 21 April Free Practice 2 follows at 08:10 local on Saturday with qualifying from 10:40 Round 7 of Season 9 gets underway from 15:00 local Free Practice 3 gets us underway on Sunday morning at 08:10 with qualifying from 10:40 Round 8 of Season 9 gets underway from 15:00 local Find out all the ways to watch where you are Follow the action on-track as it happens in the brand new Race Centre Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver during every session of every E-Prix There's also exclusive extended highlights all the standings and results as well as data We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. 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SearchBrowseServicesOpen researchInstitution LoginSearchMenu links the post-war use of Berlin's Tempelhof Airport has seen it recast as a ‘symbol of freedom’ the site has been caught between calls for increased engagement with its use under the Third Reich and economic incentives to repackage it as an attractive events location Through analysing the different strategies through which Tempelhof's past is negotiated this article will highlight the contested nature of Berlin's relationship with the past and the complex interaction between memory politics and more pragmatic issues This article will take as its focus a heavily contested site that overlaps all of these strands of scholarship: Tempelhofer Feld Tempelhofer Feld is a green space of over 300 hectares in the heart of Berlin Previously used for the grazing of cattle and for Prussian military exercises the Feld became home to Berlin's first airport in the 1920s a disused Prussian military prison on the site was used as a Gestapo prison and then a concentration camp It was closed in 1936 and subsequently demolished to make way for the construction of the monumental airport building that currently stands in the north-west corner of the Feld the airport building was used for armament production and was staffed by forced labourers who were housed in wooden barracks on the Feld the American Air Force was headquartered within the building and opened it up for civil aviation in 1950 the Berlin Senate announced that Berlin's air traffic should be concentrated in one location and Tempelhof would cease to function as an airport The possibility of closing the popular city-centre airport sparked huge protests which saw the pro-closure Social Democratic Party (SPD) Left and Green parties and environmental and citizens’ groups pitted against the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) the Springer Press and other citizens’ groups The closure of the airport opened up questions over what to do with the vast site Through the former presence of the concentration camp and the forced labourers just as historically burdened as any other National Socialist building as the example of the Berlin Wall makes apparent the meanings attached to places are not immutable Just as the post-unification change in function has transformed the meanings attached to the East Side Gallery so too has Tempelhof's post-war use added an extra layer which significantly changes its meaning Tempelhof was in the western sector of the city and its connections with the west's victory have led to it being hailed as a symbol not of dictatorship but of freedom A corollary of this is that confrontation with the site's use during the Third Reich has The closure of the airport presented both the opportunity and the obligation to try and bring about the level of critical engagement with this period that has been seen at other National Socialist buildings in Berlin the heavily contested nature of the airport's closure also created a strong political impetus to configure Tempelhof both as a site of recreation which would be attractive to Berliners and as a viable investment opportunity that would bring much-needed funds into the city Through analysing the different strategies through which the past is negotiated and mediated at Tempelhof this article will argue that the historicization of that site is currently at a crossroads: we can see evidence of a pedagogical approach to the site's multiple layers designed to inform visitors and to encourage critical engagement with the site's National Socialist past but we simultaneously see the fetishization of selected elements of the past and even the commodification of some aspects of the site's National Socialist layer In the interaction between these two constructions of the site's history we see a magnification of the tension that characterizes contemporary Berlin: that between the ‘post-dictatorship’ city shaped by ongoing memory politics; and the modern western city where authorities need to strike a balance between attracting corporate investment and listening to citizens’ demands to determine how their city is constituted As well as dominating the written materials about the history of Tempelhof its status as ‘symbol of freedom’ has been reinforced at the site itself through memorials and symbols that were inaugurated there during the American use of the airport Prominent amongst these are Eduard Ludwig's 1951 Luftbrückendenkmal and the head of the eagle which was installed on a ground-level plinth in 1985 Figure 1: Ludwig's 1951 Airlift Memorial on Platz der Luftbrücke Figure 2: The Luftbrückendenkmal in the ‘vote yes’ campaign material Figure 3: Eagle Square: the head of Lemcke's eagle reinstalled on Platz der Luftbrücke in 1985 Figure 4: Steibert's 1994 Columbiahaus memorial on Columbiadamm - No HTML tags allowed- Web page URLs will display as text only- Lines and paragraphs break automatically- Attachments Your email address will be used in order to notify you when your comment has been reviewed by the moderator and in case the author(s) of the article or the moderator need to contact you directly shared ownership in or any close relationship with any organisation whose interests may be affected by the publication of the response Please also list any non-financial associations or interests (personal religious or other) that a reasonable reader would want to know about in relation to the submitted work This pertains to all the authors of the piece Ubisoft and Trackmania have unveiled a shiny new Berlin track in-game following the huge success of the Tokyo Street Circuit which launched in-game alongside the first Tokyo E-Prix Attention all Trackmania thrill-seekers: It’s now time to conquer the iconic Tempelhof Circuit in Berlin where history meets cutting-edge electric racing technology and power through wide hairpins on this track designed on a former airport Join for the unveiling of Berlin track during the Track of the Day and Cup of the Day First Berlin race will follow the same day at 20:00 CEST Second and third races will run on May 12 at 14:00 CEST The Trackmania x Formula E championship game mode offers multilap races with energy management and an ATTACK MODE that can be triggered during the race you can sharpen your skills by accessing the Formula E game mode online room available in the Formula E club (for PC players only) All information about the game mode is available here. Additionally, you can access the championship rulebook to learn more about the event That’s not all – gear up in style with 12 stunning liveries including new Envision Racing and an exclusive championship showcar skin the Berlin track once again demonstrates Trackmania's boundless immersive customization thanks to a great collaboration between Formula E teams And the experience will go beyond competitive players as everyone is invited to enjoy the show via the live stream."  Formula E said: “As Formula E’s gaming offer continues to grow we’re thrilled to integrate the new Berlin circuit into Trackmania for millions of fans to enjoy As the ever-present race location on our calendar it’s important to give fans and players the chance to put themselves in the driving seat and experience the thrill and drama of electric racing themselves With unique game modes and cash prizes up for grabs it’s all to play for as we head to the German capital.” The Berlin E-Prix race week sees the launch of Formula E’s second time-limited event (TLE) in Asphalt 8 The GEN2 will be playable on the Munich Subway track from Tuesday 7 May to 20 May 2024 will feature a special edition Asphalt livery and fans can try their hand at predicting how the action will unfold with Formula E’s Official Predictor game Download our app and predict which drivers will progress from qualifying groups set the fastest lap and which team will score the most points across the weekend Predictor LIVE allows fans to predict which drivers will progress through the qualifying duels in Formula E’s unique qualifying format live Kent German/CNET With two currently serving the city and another forever under construction But the most fascinating of them all permanently closed its runways almost a decade ago Located in the southern half of the former West Berlin, Tempelhof Airport was one of the city's main gateways from 1923 to 2008. During the latter half of its life it served only passengers, but in its earlier years it played the roles of a symbol of Nazi power, a World War II aircraft factory and a crucial link in the Berlin Airlift Following IFA earlier this month I visited the former terminal on a guided tour It gave an in-depth look at a vast building not just laden with history but also one that influenced design of the modern airport The terminal complex sits on the northwest corner of the field towering over inline skaters racing on the old runways and picnickers relaxing on the grass.  But as they did with everything else in Germany the Nazis completely transformed Tempelhof when they came to power in 1933 Adolf Hitler picked the airport as the world's entry point for what he envisioned as a completely reconstructed Berlin Architect Ernst Sagebiel was charged with designing a new terminal that would reflect the power of the Nazi regime and the glory of a new Germany Construction began in 1936 and proceeded rapidly with much of the building completed by the time World War II began in 1939 but the war canceled those plans and the last touches on the building were abandoned Tempelhof was never used as an airport during the war and was only finished after the US military took over Tempelhof after it was briefly occupied by the Russians following Germany's surrender Tempelhof's main passenger hall is a stunning space it doesn't feel completely abandoned as it in fact now houses more than 100 tenants from offices of Berlin's police force to a male strip club.  Berlin has the highest density of goshawk territories anywhere in the world Amy Liptrot has delighted in the joys of watching these spectacular birds up close – in a way that would be impossible in rural areas I’ve been waking up early to look for birds of prey I pass people coming home from parties or from working the nightshift; getting out of taxis I cycle past snatches of music and voices from house parties It has been cold overnight and, at Tempelhofer Feld The rising sun glints in the windows of the vast old airport terminal building and the sky is the same pink as the markings on the runway Cold is in my nostrils and I can hear trains A birdwatcher friend told me that dusk and dawn are the best times to see hawks: “Try to break up your own outline by standing against a tree,” he advised I’ve been in the park for just a few minutes when a large heavy bird of prey comes screeching out of the trees upsetting the hooded crows and changing the atmosphere It perches on a post while I fumble with my new binoculars trying to get a closer look; then it flies back into the trees and disappears I am a novice birdwatcher so am not sure what species it is but when I get home I compare the call to a recording online At the beginning of the winter I moved to Berlin from Scotland, looking for new experiences and inspiration. I heard that, amazingly, around 100 pairs of goshawks (der Habicht in German) breed and live in the city of Berlin. I am particularly interested because I’d recently read the wonderful H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald an account of the author’s lifelong passion for birds of prey and training a goshawk A birdwatcher friend told me that dusk and dawn are the best times to see goshawksTempelhof airport closed in 2008; it is now left open to the public Photograph: Amy LiptrotThe northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is goshawks were extinct by the late 19th century persecuted by humans who saw them as vermin They were re-introduced from the 1970s and Macdonald describes goshawks as a “dark grail” for birdwatchers “you might spend a week in a forest full of gosses and not see one So I am excited that here in Berlin it is not so hard to spot them If you have an idea of what to look or listen for you can see them from an open-air cafe or even a swimming pool they have thrived in Berlin where there is an abundance of prey (they hunt and eat mainly pigeons but also birds such as crows and magpies and mammals including rats and squirrels) and they are not usually persecuted by humans and Berlin is one of Europe’s most wooded cities with tree-lined streets (an average 80 per kilometre) and parks and cemeteries where the trees have regrown after the second world war Although goshawks are found in a few other cities Berlin has the highest density of goshawk territories anywhere in the world – urban or rural When constructed it was the largest building the world with 400 air-raid and gas-attack shelters underground Goshawks are arboreal, and Berlin is one of Europe’s most wooded cities. Photograph: Norbert Kenntner After the war, Tempelhof was the site of the American airlift in 1948 and ’49 built by the Americans in the 1980s for communications and to listen in on the GDR still stands and is now used by the German army After the end of the Cold War and German reunification Tempelhof was used as the city’s main civil airport until 2008; there were subsequent plans to develop the site but a referendum decided there would be no construction in the park for 10 years Enthused and encouraged by a couple of hawk sightings, I contact Berlin ornithologist Dr Norbert Kenntner who is part of a project to observe the city’s goshawks and ring their chicks Norbert kindly takes me around goshawk territories mainly cemeteries in Neukölln and Kreuzberg He plays surf guitar in his car between sites and talks knowledgeably and enthusiastically Goshawks tend to spend much of their time perched strong legs and talons to kill its prey; it can kill a pigeon in mid-air He shows me how to find their plucking posts – piles of pigeon feathers on the ground – and tells me about “flagging” when males show their white under-tail feathers We spot big, dark goshawk nests high in the trees, and look to see if they contain any new build (green leaves that show they’ve been worked on this year). At the top of a church steeple in Kreuzberg, we see the very male goshawk that is pictured on the Wikipedia entry for the bird I look through binoculars at her and then watch her fly getting a good view of her pale flecked underside “goshawks in flight are a complicated grey.” Armed with knowledge from Norbert, I keep searching, setting my alarm and taking a long-cut across Tempelhofer on my way to work, or going at dusk to a square near my flat in Kreuzberg where he told me there was a nesting site. I see goshawks maybe half of the times I go to Tempelhof and kestrels every time, often accompanied by a motorcade of crows. Urban birds have learned to be unbothered by the dog walkers, runners and skateboarders. Read moreUrban birds provide chances for observation impossible in rural areas Ornithologists are still learning about the species and seeing new behaviour in cities Goshawks have been in Berlin since the mid-70s and the population boomed in the last 15 years and urban birds are vulnerable to disease and death by flying into windows Goshawks are protected but they face illegal persecution by humans (gamekeepers, pigeon fanciers, collectors) in rural areas, and young hawks leaving Berlin could be in danger. For this reason, they have been named “bird of the year” by the German conservation organisation NABU to encourage reporting of their persecution The hawks become a mascot of my first months in a new city something to pursue when my priorities are unclear I like knowing that the city is not completely human and become interested in other wild creatures in Berlin too: red squirrels descended from animals that escaped from farms bombed in the second world war Nature is not something separate and distant: wild beasts live among us The city is not as tame or discovered as we might think The dangers of eco-gentrification: what’s the best way to make a city greener? There’s sweet poetic justice in a monument created by modern history’s most loathsome regime being turned to humanitarian use There’s nonetheless far more to the Tempelhof site than its Nazi origins alone The old airport remains one of contemporary Berlin’s most contested sites a place where just last year a citywide referendum saw Berliners reject plans to redevelop the airport grounds with housing The temporary refugee accommodation adds a sharp twist to this story Berliners have effectively said no to real estate developers—and yes to refugees which incorporates the original City Hall benches Philly took a step in the right direction after years of stubbornness but the approach to each space is miles apart you enter a field with an asphalt track circling around it It takes about ten minutes of skating or twenty minutes of walking before the park appears like an abyss among grass and you’ll question whether you’re going the right way half a dozen times along the way The park is more of a skateable sculpture than an actual skatepark It has the appearance of what you’d expect to be the best spot in Barcelona or somewhere in China with natural surfaces and some slight imperfections abound in the design Paine’s Park is just a standard good skatepark that gets elevated by the use of benches from a former skate spot; Tempelhof could very well exist in some European plaza under heavy security except it was made specifically for the use of skateboarders an unknowing spectator would assume it’s just some miraculous coincidence of architecture The park sits on some historic ground. Tempelhof was once considered the longest operating commercial airport in the world until its closure in 2008, in addition to one of the largest buildings on earth. Wikipedia says it is where Allied leaders landed in May of 1945 to sign and oversee Germany’s surrender in World War II Even the slabs used for the park have historic origin in that they come from the Palace of the Republic the place of East Germany’s parliament during the Cold War and the stones have found themselves repurposed as ledges and banks here Where else do two pivotal eras of twentieth century history converge under your skateboard and a downpour came less than ten minutes after our arrival Everyone scurried under the few square feet of shelter to wait out the rain but the simple pleasure to be had in riding a skateboard without being stuffed in an overcrowded cage or repeating the skate-each-spot-for-two-minutes ritual has not gotten any more accessible Skateparks are quite obviously a business, and its understandable if building things like this is not profitable or worthwhile for skatepark companies But New York is ridden with underutilized public space and presumably stocked with scrapped materials from renovations that are in a yard collecting dust somewhere Berlin did an amazing thing here by allowing an architect to design a space solely using recycled materials — like a D.I.Y spot with government resources afforded to it The amount of kids riding skateboards isn’t decreasing by any means so it might be a good time to take note from one of the more free-thinking cities in Europe for a solution that’s more creative than “skaters = skatepark.” Since this is likely the last time we are mentioning our Berlin excursion and also because it never gets old… Past International Skate Spot Pornography Posts: Shenzhen, China, Barcelona I was in Berlin in 2008 and saw the Palace of the Republic get torn down Now it’s the people’s skatepark I’ve always wondered what skatepark builders have against STRAIGHT FUCKING LEDGES I live in CO and there’s a skatepark in every town with A 20 foot cradle but not a STRAIGHT FUCKING LEDGE at any of em What are the kids gonna do with a 20 FOOT CRADLE?!? Just build us a STRAIGHT FUCKING LEDGE and be done with it Your next QS cap should read STRAIGHT FUCKING LEDGES There are straight fucking ledges all around the Denver park The Denver park is the shittiest park in CO un-grindable wall that boarders the park doesn’t count Nobody from CO is allowed to complain about skateparks All credit goes to Adam Sello ( http://www.anzeigeberlin.de ) ya know that the above comment is from this guy?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiTwMEROvis “Once you get off the train, and pass a hilarious excuse for a skatepark that some small American municipality would surely dream to pass off as sufficient after outlawing skateboarding” haha, perfect. Joey Buffafuco – you should get the American Ramp Company out to Colorado, they’ll build ya some sweet dragon’s backs, 4 foot long tall curved ledges and a pump track. The second edition of the newly formed Art Berlin fair will take place next month (27-30 September) in one of the city’s most celebrated but controversial landmarks tells The Art Newspaper: “We are really excited to move Art Berlin to two of the spectacular [airport] hangars as it will partly be renovated; how it will be used in the future is still under discussion." But Cruse says: "We have secured it again for 2019.” was built as part of Adolf Hitler’s plans for the capital; according to the airport website some of the hangars are used as emergency refugee accommodation—at its peak in late 2015 A “gallery of history” giving insights into the airport’s chequered past is due to be built on the 1.2km-long roof Art Berlin has grown out of Art Berlin Contemporary (ABC) the defunct event that was not considered a commercial success artist-focused exhibition model for galleries,” Cruse says Commentators last year were surprised when she teamed up with Daniel Hug the director of the venerable Art Cologne fair which is run by the trade fair company Koelnmesse More than 120 galleries from 21 countries are due to participate in the second edition; around two-thirds run galleries based in Germany while seven operate in the US such as Freedman Fitzpatrick of Los Angeles and Paris Cruse highlights new sections such as the Special Projects category comprising 28 solo presentations and projects centred on young artists “We have also developed a Salon sector in which the curator Tenzing Barshee will show single works from mostly younger galleries in an exhibition-like collaborative booth,” she says Concerns linger however that the Berlin art market may be rich in artists and dealers but lacks a solid local collector base Many German and international prominent collectors like Julia Stoschek and Désiré Feuerle have moved to Berlin in recent years; more are planning to move here and open their collections to the public,” Cruse says A rendering of the exhibition spaces inside the Tempelhof airport Tempelhof Projekt GmbH “Art Berlin brings together many of young collectors who are starting to buy The growing potential in the art market is also one of the reasons why it makes sense to start an art fair now,” she adds CLARIFICATION (14 August): A spokesman for Art Berlin says: "Berlin Art Week has moved to the end of September because Art Berlin (not Positions) did not secure the previous venue where the fair was held [Station Berlin]. This is because of the Berlin Marathon." news1 August 2018Radical performance artist Ulay to show rarely seen works in London exhibition Marina Abramovic’s ex-partner has signed up with Richard Saltoun gallery news19 June 2018Street art community pays tribute to three graffiti artists killed by a train in London The young men believed to be in their teens and early 20s The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students Although the building needs heavy redevelopment the project is still a top priority for Berlin’s government Berlin Senator for Urban Development and Housing Sebastian Scheel submitted a report in the Senate on the planning development and condition of the Tempelhof airport area The nearly 80-year-old structure is supposed to become the new cultural epicentre of Berlin the report shows that it needs to go through heavy redevelopment first The unexpectedly high need for renovations in the supporting structure and fire safety measures is a setback giving an overview of the current and future projects to set up shop in the ex-airport The rehabilitation of the landmark site remains a priority and it is still happening under the “Vision 2030+” programme The programme provides a framework for the conversion of the derelict airport into Berlin’s hot new cultural district It aims to transform the airport with its relatively central location into something like the Meatpacking District in Manhattan – a place for culture One of the flagship projects at Tempelhof is a gallery on the roof of the building that is one kilometre long with an information centre in the front – providing visitors with an overview of the site’s history The old airport tower will also open for visitors where they will get a 360° view of the city and the adjacent airfield The idea is to integrate the massive redevelopment project quickly so that it can start to have a tangible impact on the city the airport will be the new home for the Columbiahaus memorial Columbia-Haus was the only concentration camp in Berlin and the historical site will create a worthy memorial to commemorate the camp's victims but the initial structure was wholly insufficient to cater to the growing passenger aircraft industry Minister for Armaments and War Production ordered its expansion in 1934 as part of the grand reconstruction of Berlin during the Nazi era Hitler’s “world capital” Germania imagined the airport functioning like a sort of symbolic “Gateway to Europe”. After the expansion the airport was one of the largest structures in the world as British architect Sir Norman Foster described it as "the mother of all airports" and the building as an architectural marvel of the modernist era Tempelhof Airport is also the birthplace of Lufthansa two of its four hangars were used to assemble “Stuka” dive bombers the airport remained relatively unscathed during the war Air Force C-47 aircraft unload at Tempelhof Airport during the Berlin Airlift the site found itself on the West side of Berlin and quickly became a landmark through which the allies could resupply the city with food and medicine Tempelhof functioned as an airport up until 2008 when the city decided to close it and redirect traffic to the newly built Schönefeld International Interior of the Berlin Tempelhof Airport Terminal Source: Paul Robert Piskorski on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 the airfield around the building opened to the public and it became a park and recreation area with several protected species finding a new home there a number of music festivals and exhibitions have used the park some of the hangers were converted into a refugee centre The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital Essaying the pop culture that matters since 1999 The second day of Berlin’s newest rock festival sees a spike in attendance and thrilling shows from Maximo Park After a lively yet calm first day, the second day of Tempelhof Sounds Berlin’s newest open-air pop-rock festival Unsurprisingly so – the event kicked off early afternoon Friday when most people were still at work or in school and the 10 pm curfew made it complicated for some to make it on time following a long week Speaking of “calm”, turns out this impression is as subjective as any; while, to my perception, a swaying crowd of about 25,000 languidly hummed to the Florence + the Machine tunes several residents in the vicinity of Tempelhofer Feld reported an earthquake Experts were summoned and it was established a 1.4 Richter earthquake indeed was felt not far from the festival site the stomping of the feet of the many people onsite caused the slight (but very much reported) tremor a mile away One person’s easy night out is another person’s upheaval. I wonder what will come out in reports today since Saturday night at Tempelhof turned out to be considerably more seismic than Day 1. After all, one Matthew Bellamy was born for seismic success the closest buildings to Tempelhof are more than a mile away the desire not to disturb anyone (or provoke a petition for the festival to be moved a common occurrence in the German capital) means the program starts but there are already thousands of folks roaming the stands or frolicking in the sun and a back-to-back lineup tailored to diverse tastes get about a fifth of pass holders to decide on spending the entire sunny Saturday onsite This is a possibility a good event should offer anyway.  At exactly 1:45 pm, the Avalanches step on the main stage (Supersonic) we realize too late that Robbie Chater and Tony Di Blasi will only host us to a DJ set though on this occasion they appear to be about 15 hours early Their house samples sound as fresh as ever but would fit much better at an early morning after-party since the audience doesn’t look like they are in the mood for clubbing soft rock seems appreciably more appropriate “They haven’t even played ‘Since I Left You’!” exclaims my photographer exasperatedly after the show We leave the festival grounds and return just in time to enter the fan pit for Maxïmo Park at the Echo stage It’s 5:30 pm and the grounds are practically full Though the difference in attendance is only about 5,000 (cca 25,000 on Saturday the crowd itself feels completely different so much so that we decided to listen to all shows from outside the fan area Five thousand people don’t sound like a massive difference at an event like this foreseeing the event for 35,000 people maximum and measuring the fenced area accordingly A 20 percent increase in headcount made for a much better party atmosphere but also long lines and some awkward squeezing; ultimately Maxïmo Park’s Paul Smith is in his usual great mood sporting a bowler hat and a plain white t-shirt with the word “peace” stamped across in black The English alt-rock trio effortlessly draw in a crowd of over 10,000 Smith is also quite chatty and keeps engaging the masses with his warmth and humor After announcing the song “The Kids Are Sick Again” in his broken but charming German he continues with a caps lock introduction to the new single Having all bands playing literally back-to-back as the fan pit closed exactly a minute after the show began; too many people were trying to squeeze in and for a good reason At times it is hard to believe there are only three people on stage during an Alt-J show: Augustus Unger-Hamilton’s evocative keyboards follow Newman’s mesmerizing vocals seamlessly as the band’s unique tunes ebb and flow while the crowds swing to the subdued rhythm Their music might be devastating and quiet it ascends to the sky and comes across as almost joyous The 60-minute set features predominantly songs off their most famed release from 20212, An Awesome Wave and the people are grateful for this since they know all of them It is a great testament to the band’s work that everyone dances and very few festival-goers leave the show to wander or rest though it’s 80 degrees and refreshment is needed “Breezeblocks” is a fitting closer and a prolonged loud cheer sends the Loiners off Just prior to the beginning of the event, an interesting interview Rbb24 did with the festival chief Stephan Thanscheidt is released (in German) Thanscheidt explains how important diversity was to the idea of Tempelhof Sounds The promoters want to that ensure up-and-coming performers will get a chance to perform as well as groups featuring female members or even leads (which comprise nearly half of the roster) For this reason, the pre-headlining slots are saved for the English glam-blues-rocker Barns Courtney, whose electrifying stage presence sets the tone for what’s to come. Courtney is so self-assured and full of energy that his persona alone manages to chip away some 3,000 people from the Sophie Hunger performance we need to save our energy for the bombastic finalé of the night presenting their latest single about a “fictional” oppressive system earnestly The screams and stomping are likely to cause more than just a 1.4 Richter tremble this time also known as one of the most spectacular all-around musical talents of our age has fully grown into his role as a postmodern revolutionary he has evolved from a frustrated teenager into a conspiracy theory and alien aficionado now completing his transformation into a prophet of social rebirth he “imagines” a world in which the people are downtrodden by greedy rulers led by an enigmatic hacker called – Will I’d be dishonest if I wouldn’t say his on-the-nose lyrics are no match for his early works of unbridled but the sheer energy and virtuosity with which the trio deliver their larger-than-life hooks makes us only crave more A friend recently commented that Muse have long completed their path to “stadiumation” something instantly obvious during their shows Many famous bands spend their entire careers straining to compose tunes that require wide-open spaces and gigantic crowds; most of them never succeed or we’re talking just a handful of “stadium rock” songs that are then worn out to perpetuity A phenomenally talented pianist and guitarist he also boasts his 4-octave vocal range with such ease Even when the lyrics falter (let’s never speak of the compliance/defiance/self-reliance rhyme again) that no doubt regarding Muse’s already legendary status remains “Hysteria” is thunderous from start to finish “Pressure” skyrockets when Bellamy sings “Don’t push me!” and “Psycho” thrills with its massive riffs Bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dom Howard are in top form Not a note is missed and each song sounds like its studio version – only LOUDER When Bellamy asks the crowd: “Was anyone here even born in 2001?!” as the mean age of those present is around 35 when a beautiful rendition of Origin of Symmetry’s “Citizen Erased” launched Only then did I realize that in the eyes of many Muse became a must-see act only after 2006 after they released their first four albums “Time is Running Out” and “Starlight” are the only singles from their peak acclaim era that get a singalong Mayhem permeates the entirety of the 90-minute show To top off Bellamy’s insane vocals and musical prowess a 30-feet tall metallic mask with a hood turns ominously from side to side toward the end showing a vile full of liquid about to blow off (this is real and I have no better way of explaining this bizarre sculpture) There’s not a soul in front of the stage that’s not either in or on ecstasy The eccentric setup just adds to all this excitement The encore is reserved for an interesting new song As Bellamy runs up and down a piste installed just for them a crowd of nearly 30,000 cries out with joy It’s barely 10 pm and we are all exhausted Wolfahrt Vogt took a last look at the airport that saved his life this monolithic limestone terminal with its cavernous check-in hall was just a city airport a transit point in the busy endeavour of getting from A to B But to Vogt and a dwindling band of the old guard a marooned city's link to the outside world "Without Tempelhof we would have starved," said Vogt who was 15 when the Berlin airlift started in 1948 We were surrounded by the Soviets; we were shot at from all sides." All of which makes the last call for flights from the airport a moving affair As cameras clicked and the departures board flickered for the final time Vogt held a homemade "danke America" sign above his felt hat she had stared in awe at the non-stop stream of aircraft descending on Tempelhof crammed with the goods to sustain a stranded city two 1940s planes - an American Douglas DC-3 and a German Junkers Ju-52 - were due to take off before midnight leaving nostalgic Berliners to dwell on the airport's role over eight decades of German history was designed by Hitler's architect Albert Speer and was built by forced labourers between 1936 and 1941 At the end of the war it became the gateway for more than 2m tonnes of goods "This airport may have negative Nazi connections but it is also linked to many positive personal memories." He was one of those who voted against closing Tempelhof in April and the tabloid Bild have thrown their weight behind saving the airport But Berlin city authorities pressed ahead with their plan has low traffic and is surrounded by densely populated neighbourhoods Its losses of more than €10m (£7.9m) every year have proved too heavy a burden for a city in debt Construction is under way on the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport due to open in 2011 on the eastern outskirts of the city Tempelhof's airfield is roughly the size of New York's Central Park Development ideas mooted so far have ranged from an environmental housing complex to a expensive private clinic