The Rübezahl Garden

The Rübezahl Garten at Tempelhofer Freiheit is a ‘Pioneer Project’ situated on the Oderstrasse Pioneer Field along the eastern edge of the site. Composed of a series of platform and elevated flower beds made from reused timber, the Rübezahl Garten can be seen as a miniature city of agglomerative arrangement - a formalisation of the informal.

“This community project is more than just a fruit and vegetable garden. It is a green classroom, a playground for children and a venue for the interaction of the local residents and the general public.”

Regardless of its own temporary nature, its multiplicity of use stimulates informal activity in the surrounding green space. People choose to fly kites and play football closer to the Rübezahl Garten because of the social energy it possesses. In this sense it is a form of urban acupuncture within a wider act of Intercepting Place, transforming the areas around without the need for them to be planned or designated with a function.

The Rübezahl Garden Tom Bradley

Foreword _ Context //

At the disused Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, four edges of the 2km diameter field have been designated as ‘Pioneer Fields’ each with a differing focus, such as ‘knowledge creating culture’ or ‘combined sports and cultural uses’. The ability to occupy these fields is then run as an open competition, the chosen applicants are then able to pursue personal projects whilst subsequently creating space for future generations.

The premise is that local community members are enabled the opportunity to become involved in management and strategic processes at varying stages of development, ideally promoting traditionally marginalised groups to positions of control and generating a greater social cohesion between otherwise conflicting parties.

Although still a “peripheral exception in a profession characterized by a top-down decision-making approach” (Oswalt), the active involvement of the public in shaping their urban environment in a legitimised approach affords mutual benefits for the both state and individual.

Tempelhofer Freiheit Strategy 1

1

District of Kreuzberg

2

District of Schรถneberg Tempelhof

3

District of Neukรถlln

+

B

+

C

Smart Grid Hub Entrance to the Field

+

+ A

+

A

Tempelhofer Damm Pioneer Field (2010-2014) - Knowledge Creating Culture

B

Columbiadamm Pioneer Field (2010-2014) - Combined Sports and Culture

C

Oderstrasse Pioneer Field (2010-2016) - Neighbourhood Communities

D

Former Plant Nursery Pioneer Field - Sports

3

D

+ +

2

The Rubezahl Garden _ Introduction //

The Rübezahl Garden at Tempelhofer Freiheit is a ‘Pioneer Project’ situated on the Oderstrasse Pioneer Field along the eastern edge of the site. Composed of a series of platform and elevated flower beds made from reused timber, the Rübezahl Garden can be seen as a miniature city of agglomerative arrangement - a formalisation of the informal.

“This community project is more than just a fruit and vegetable garden. It is a green classroom, a playground for children and a venue for the interaction of the local residents and the general public.” (Tempelhofer Freiheit) Regardless of its own temporary nature, its multiplicity of use stimulates informal activity in the surrounding green space. People choose to fly kites and play football closer to the Rübezahl Garden because of the social energy it possesses. In this sense it is a form of urban acupuncture within a wider act of Intercepting Place, transforming the areas around without the need for them to be planned or designated with a function.

The R端bezahl Garden Tom Bradley

The Rübezahl Garden The Rübezahl Garden at Tempelhofer Freiheit is a ‘Pioneer Project’ situated on the Oderstrasse Pioneer Field along the eastern edge of the site. Composed of a series of platform and elevated flower beds made from reused timber, the Rübezahl Garden can be seen as a miniature city of agglomerative arrangement - a formalisation of the informal.

“This community project is more than just a fruit and vegetable garden. It is a green classroom, a playground for children and a venue for the interaction of the local residents and the general public.” (Tempelhofer Freiheit) Regardless of its own temporary nature, its multiplicity of use stimulates informal activity in the surrounding green space. People choose to fly kites and play football closer to the Rübezahl Garden because of the social energy it possesses. In this sense it is a form of urban acupuncture within a wider act of Intercepting Place, transforming the areas around without the need for them to be planned or designated with a function.

Tom Bradley