17K 
UK-based David Chipperfield Architects has been given licence to transform a former industrial and production site in Berlin's Marzahn district. The studio's proposal outlines big changes to Georg-Knorr-Park, essentially converting the property into a lively residential and commercial hub.
The nine-hectare site is currently characterized by a number of heritage buildings surrounded by urban infrastructure and industry. The plan will spread across 152,000 square metres and introduce 1,400 affordable rental units to the site plus 90,000 square metres of office and commercial space.
Many of the heritage buildings will be integrated into their modern counterparts, including a "new urban structure composed of courtyard buildings and towers of differing dimensions," reads the architects' design brief. The new building blocks will rise adjacent to wide-open arcades to mitigate noise and allow light and air into the apartments from both sides. The arcades also function as primary meeting places for residents and workers.
Creating a dialogue between the renewed Georg-Knorr-Park and the neighbouring high-rise towers of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, the development will host three towers. The entire development will be surrounded by a protective green belt of playgrounds and paths that extend into the centre of the neighbourhood. With easy access to public transit, most of the area is envisioned as car-free.
The largest courtyard, located in the middle of the site, serves as the town square. It will feature a child care centre, restaurants and cafes, providing another focal point to the development. Expansive green roofs will also assist in enhancing the property's public amenities.
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