Luke Ansell

Strategic, Sensitive & Sought After Space Creation in Tempelhofer Feld.

My approach and proposal for development on and around Tempelhofer Feld is influenced by the feedback, documented in the competition brief, from the people of Berlin when asked what they would like to see happen with Tempelhofer Feld and what they thought was needed.

The main points across the board were shelter, accessibility, biotope creation, wetland, gathering and activity opportunities, wildlife protection and an overwhelming disdain for any annexing of the public park for housing. Through these valuable insights and my site research I was able to develop a couple of key strategic and site sensitive concepts for developments that I feel would greatly enhance the park without taking away from the existing character of this much loved large open space, whilst simultaneously providing the public with new engaging recreation opportunities and boosting biodiversity.  

The Proposals:

• Rainwater Capture & Wetland Creation
  My main focus was the creation of a sub park within Tempelhof, envisaged around the creation of a long braided ephemeral water catchment feature. The water feature is filled with the rainfall gathered from surrounding concrete surfaces and the vast roof of the airport building, which was constructed with water harvesting as a key design principle. The catchment feature is impermeable. Runoff is directed through the landscape, getting purified by vegetation along the way, where it then has a chance to free drain into the ground, feeding the existing aquifer which was an important goal for the city as it helps safeguard their water resources against water scarcity. The deliberate braided shape emulates natural ephemeral streams while also importantly reducing surface water area thus reducing evaporation. Nothing will be sacrificed to create the feature as it is proposed where currently there is cracked degraded asphalt runway, unused by people and wildlife alike. All excavation material will be used on site to create mounding in the surrounding park and shelterbelt to the South.  
• Greenway Along Abandoned Rail Lines
  Refurbishing and reimagining existing abandoned rail lines, and a perfectly placed abandoned railway bridge, to provide cyclist and pedestrian access to Tempelhofer Feld from the South which is currently unavailable due the existing train lines and motorway. This not only increases accessibility to and from Tempelhof for the immediate surroundings but stands to interconnect even farther Southern reaches of Berlin, past the Teltow Canal.
• Shelter From Noise Pollution & The Elements
  It was unanimous from the Berlin residence and visitors that shelter was needed on the site. The noise from the existing urban motorway and trainlines to the south currently travels unimpeded across the vast flat interior. Trees are the answer, providing year-round visual interest, habitat, placemaking and of course the shelter needed. While the trees are the backbone of the shelter developments, there’s opportunities created with this newfound shelter to create sought after spaces for rest, play, exercise while also being able to conceal and frame