urban design, civic participation / berlin, germany / competition 2025


Dear Ms. Brandt (Surfskater),

I saw your interview on RBB24, and it really moved me. It’s truly sad that a structure for a parkour group is supposed to be built exactly in the place that surfskaters are currently using so vibrantly. Why there, of all places, in the vast Tempelhofer Feld (THF)? There are so many other open areas!

But you know, maybe the real issue goes deeper. It’s about the attitude of the Berlin Senate, which treats spaces like interchangeable objects. Do you remember last March? Back then they decided to expand the refugee camp and simply sacrificed a sports field without much thought.

I’m an architect, and I’ll be very honest with you: if you continue to use the space just as it is now, then it will definitely be built over someday. And when that time comes, they’ll argue, “There are people who urgently need a roof over their heads. You can skateboard somewhere else!” They will present us with their “higher moral standards” and demand understanding and tolerance from us.

We need to elevate this place to another level. We should design it in a way that makes it untouchable—no matter what moral, social, or political standards someone applies. Let’s fill this space with something truly meaningful: the protection of life, the power of nature, and the possibility of healing. Only then can we ensure that this place won’t simply be replaced or given up.

Many greetings,
09A