“I would like an image that makes the mermaid in Copenhagen look like the ‘Goldelse’ on the Victory Column in Berlin, with a laurel wreath and wings.” (September 10, 2025)
TOPIC . The Spree is Berlin's blue artery. Its banks are characterized by a high density of political, cultural, economic, and tourist activities. Today, the potential of this river area remains largely untapped: swimming is prohibited due to poor water quality and the priority given to shipping, which is almost exclusively tourist-oriented. The riverbanks are often monofunctional and, in many areas, only accessible to a limited extent.
The project aims to investigate how the banks of the Spree can be further developed as a multifunctional open space for urban society. The starting point is an analysis of the adjacent neighborhoods along the section under consideration. Each district – from the government district to the museum and cultural sites to the urban residential and creative quarters around Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg – has different requirements for the use of the waterfront. From this diversity, specific typologies for open space solutions need to be derived that both take local identities into account and strengthen overarching urban contexts.
A key objective is to develop new forms of open space on and around the water that focus on people and their diverse uses. Multiple use is seen as added value: spaces should be flexible, serve different times of day and seasons, and combine social and ecological functions. For example, floating platforms could temporarily serve as bathing areas, event venues, or ecological filter bodies.
In addition, the issue of dealing with the foreseeable water shortages in the Spreewald and Lusatia regions is addressed. Strategies for increasing resilience, such as retention areas, adaptive bank designs, or the use of purification and storage technologies, are integrated into the designs. In the long term, this could not only make swimming in the Spree possible, but also create a new, sustainable urban space that meets ecological challenges while providing a collective experience for Berliners.
EXCURSION . An important part of the project is a planned excursion to Copenhagen. In recent years, the Danish capital has impressively demonstrated how open spaces on and around the water can be integrated into urban development and made available for public use. The Nordhavn district in particular serves as a prime example of how living, working, recreation, and access to water can be combined with high-quality architecture and landscape design. In addition, Copenhagen offers numerous examples of successful public spaces that impress with their openness, flexibility, and quality of stay. Last but not least, the exemplary focus on cycling should also be considered, as it could represent a sustainable addition to Berlin's mobility concept.
The project excursion will take place from October 23 to 29, 2025. We will be in the project room around the Spree in Berlin from October 23 to 25 and in Copenhagen from October 27 to 29, where we will look at examples of best practice. Travel to and from Berlin and accommodation in Berlin must be organized independently. Accommodation and bicycles in Copenhagen will be booked for all participants by the professorship.
Arrival day: Wednesday, October 22.
BERLIN from Thursday, October 23 (meeting point at 9 a.m. on site) through Saturday, October 25.
Sunday, October 26: Travel day, flexible for everyone.
COPENHAGEN from Sunday, October 26 through Thursday, October 30.
Departure day Thursday, October 30.
- Fixed times for meeting points and joint excursion destinations where attendance is mandatory.
- The free time, or the time before and after the joint excursion days, can be freely allocated and used.
- Local transportation: In Berlin, use public transportation (organize yourself) and in Copenhagen, use bicycles (group booking approx. 18 euros/day)
Accommodation in Copenhagen will be booked for the entire group by the professorship (expected to be Steel House Copenhagen for approx. 28 euros/night)
Check-in: October 26, 2025 (presumably all together at a specific time, e.g., 6 p.m.)
Check-out: October 30, 2025 (individually by 11 a.m. at the latest)
To be coordinated and organized by you:
- Plan and book your own travel to Berlin and public transportation in Berlin.
- Plan and book your own accommodation in Berlin.
- Plan and book your own onward travel from Berlin to Copenhagen on October 26.
- Plan and book your own return travel from Copenhagen.
- Meals - self-catering (including breakfast)
- Bring ideas for experimental analyses and use time on site to implement them
START . Brief project presentation at the start of the semester on Monday, October 13, 2025, starting at 4:00 p.m., as well as initial detailed information about the excursion. Explanation of the analysis topics on Thursday, October 16, 2025, starting at 1:15 p.m. Project introduction and initial supervision on Monday, October 20, 2025, starting at 1:15 p.m. Supervision and presentation days always on Mondays starting at 1:15 p.m. Location: Studio O5
SUPERVISION . Prof. Dr. Sören Schöbel . M.A. Sabine Kern
Open to students from the following degree programs:
BACHELOR . Landscape Architecture (L7) . Project 5 - Landscape . 10 ECTS
MASTER . Landscape Architecture or Urban Planning (M1/M2) . 15 ECTS
TIMETABLE .
Mon, Oct. 13 4:00 p.m. Mandatory registration Introduction Excursion information Distribution of analysis topics
Thu, Oct. 16 1:15 p.m. Introduction and supervision of analysis topics
Mon, Oct. 20 1:15 p.m. Introduction to project and supervision of analysis
Thu, Oct. 23 to Wed, Oct. 29, 2025 . Excursion week
Mon, Nov. 3 Supervision . Analysis
Mon, Nov. 10 Supervision . Analysis
Mon, Nov. 17 Supervision . Analysis
Mon, Nov. 24 Presentation . Analysis
Mon, Dec. 1 Supervision . Concept
Mon, Dec. 8 Supervision . Concept
Mon, Dec. 15 Presentation . Concept
Mon, Dec. 22 Supervision . Concept / Draft
Mon, Jan. 12 Supervision . Draft
Mon, Jan. 19 Supervision . Draft
Mon, Jan. 26 Supervision . Draft
Mon, Feb. 2 Final presentation