From Socialist Heritage Towards a New Concept of Commons

Urs Kumberger and Verena Schmidt Berlin, 2020 HAUS DER STATISTIK, BERLIN From Socialist Heritage Towards a New Concept of Commons

The project Haus der Statistik serves as a prototype for a cooperative planning process with the goal to establish a new neigborhood as common good for everyone. Haus der Statistik is located adjacent to Berlin's Alexanderplatz, one of the centers of today's Berlin and the former representative heart of East Berlin. At Alexanderplatz, the notion of commons has changed multiple times, influenced by major transformations: from collective organization during socialism, to individualization and fragmentation in the neoliberal era after the German reunification (resulting in an agglomeration of malls, hotels and luxury apartments), to the not yet completed search for a new concept of commons. Haus der Statistik represents a counter model to market driven urban development. The project is characterized by civil engagement, a firm political will, a careful handling of post-war architectural heritage, and a collectively developed vision for a city for all.

Haus der Statistik at Berlin Alexanderplatz Š Teleinternetcafe

1. Berlin Alexanderplatz How did the site change during the course of history?

Haus der Statistik was built in the course of restructuring the area around Alexanderplatz in the 1960s. Alexanderplatz has always been an important part of Berlin's cultural history. The Zeitgeist of every era has been reflected on it and it became a place for economc life, boom and change.

During its history that area has been undergoing multiple radical changes; spatial and morphological as well as political and social.

The former parade ground was named Alexanderplatz after a visit of Tsar Alexander I in the year 1805. Its urban appearance, that defined the area till World War II, developed during the course of the 19th century. Starting in 1871, after the founding of the German Reich, the complete overbuilding of the urban blocks was initiated. This led to the dense urban fabric which earned Berlin fifty years later the title “Das steinerne Berlin“. With its peak in the 1920s and 1930s Alexanderplatz developed to the “Weltstadtplatz“, which was famously described in Alfred Döblin's “Berlin Alexanderplatz“. It was one of the most modern transport hubs and with department stores, hotels, gastronomy, theaters and cinemas one of the most important economic centers of the rapidly growing metropolis Berlin.

World War II marked a turning point in the history of the city. Caused by massive destructions during the war the urban dynamics switched from immense growth before to a focus on reconstruction after the war. The planning discourse was characterized by visionary plans and modernist ideas for Berlins future and strongly influenced by the Charta of Athens.

The German division a few years later led to a divided development of Berlin. East Berlin's development was based on the “Sixteen principles of urban design”, which represented an opposition to the consistently pursued idea of the “urban landscape” in West Berlin. Alexanderplatz was put in a totally new political and social context with a different planning agenda. The plans for East Berlin's new center were implemented in the 1950s and 1960s.

The redesign of Alexanderplatz started in the end of the 1960s. The idea was to establish a new kind of city. As part of the new building ensemble around Alexanderplatz Haus der Statistik became an integral part of East Berlin's representative center and was an important component of the socialist administration. The huge architectural ensemble served as the Central Office of Statistics of the GDR. With the German reunification the political and social context turned again. Originated in a socialist state Haus der Statistik found itself now in the center of changing systems and policies. Since the early 1990s the Berlin Senate prepared themselves for an economic boom and massive development projects. In place of the existing buildings around Alexanderplatz from GDR times new skyscrapers were envisioned, several projects were designed. The development plan pursued to privatize public land and to replace Haus der Statistik and other representative buildings of the GDR with new office and apartment buildings.

But other than predicted Berlin's fast economic boom did not appear. Almost none of the designs was realized up till today. After being reused by the German authorities till 2008 Haus der Statistik

has been standing empty since more than 10 years and gradually deteriorated. It became a highly visible ruin the middle of the city.

“Allesandersplatz” - as a widely visible sign of this unique process big white letters were installed on the roof of the vacant Haus der Statistik by STATISTA (an art project of ZK/U – Center for art and Urbanistics and KW Institute for Contemporary Art) in 2019. © Simone Häckel

2. Model project How can we reclaim the commons?

While Berlin was known for its vast affordable spaces for everyone and every use for decades, now a rapid increase in the value of land, a lack of affordable space as well as increasing displacement pressure on social and creative uses is ubiquitous everywhere in the city. In 2015 the tension on the housing market reached a felt temporary peak. It was the year, when many thousand refugees arrived in Berlin and the public debate on the right to the city got more intensive.

As a reaction, a group of civil actors raised their voices to claim the vacant Haus der Statistik as a common spatial resource for culture, social affairs and refugees. The kick off for their activities was an artistic protest intervention. During Berlin Art Week, the artist group “Allianz bedrohter Berliner Atelierhäuser – AbBA” (alliance of endangered ateliers in Berlin) attached a fake construction site banner on the facade of Haus der Statistik announcing new spaces for art, culture and social affairs. This raised public awareness and helped to start a lively public debate about the future of Haus der Statistik. Shortly after, the Haus der Statistik initiative was founded as an alliance of various actors: social and cultural institutions, art collectives, architects and other associations.

Later, the initiative changed its structure and founded the cooperative for urban development named ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG. The civil engagement led to political discussions and finally to political agreements which support the initiative's proposals for Haus der Statistik. The goal to create a mixed neighborhood, a place for administration as well as for art and culture, education,

social affairs and affordable housing was embedded in the new coalition agreement.

A group of civil actors raised their voices to claim the vacant Haus der Statistik as a common spatial resource for culture, social affairs and refugees. © raumlaborberlin

According to this mix of uses a new constellation of actors was formed, who have been working cooperatively on the development of the Haus der Statistik since January 2018. The so called Koop5 consists of four public organizations and one civil initiative; the cooperation partners are: the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing of Berlin, the District Office Berlin-Mitte, the public housing company WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH, the BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH and the ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG. Based on an agreement, which was signed by each cooperation partner, Koop5 pursue the goal to develope a new neigborhood for the common good.

“Allesandersplatz” - as a widely visible sign of this unique process big white letters were installed

on the roof of Haus der Statistik by STATISTA (an art project of ZK/U – Center for art and Urbanistics and KW Institute for Contemporary Art) in 2019. By changing only three letters Alexanderplatz becomes the “Allesanderplatz” (literally translated: everything different square).

This simple switch sends out a strong message and reminds us all that things have to change in order keep our city our commond good. The sign marks the beginning of a once again new process here in Berlin's center; a place where during its turbulent history the social form as well as the urban design changed multiple times; a place where its changes always where strongly determined from the “top down”. Here Alexanderplatz becomes “Allesanderplatz” and opens its future development strongly for civil society participation and pursues the understanding from city

as process and common good.

Workshops and public events were hosted in an existing pavilion directly on site – the so called Werkstatt. © ZKB eG

Cooperative Planning Workshop The recommunalization of Haus der Statistik in 2017 paved the way for a cooperative development process with extremely high ambitions in terms of social aspects and spatial qualities. Koop5 will jointly manage and realize the project to allow for programmatic synergies and a mutual quality assurance. In 2018, the Senate launched a workshop process. Three planning teams (architects and landscape architects) designed urban concepts for the site around Haus der Statistik. The process combined various formats of participation and exchange with interdisciplinary experts.

Workshops and public events were hosted in an existing pavilion directly on site – the so called Werkstatt – which created a high visibility and a strong public interest in the project.

As a result of the workshop process, the concept of the planning team Teleinternetcafe and Treibhaus was selected to be implemented. The planning team was commissioned by the Senate

to further elaborate their concept. This phase of the project is continued as a cooperative process since August 2019 – meaning that all members of Koop5 manage the planning process together and that the public is informed about intermediate results and invited to discussions regularly.

In the process, the single authorship of the planner was replaced by a collective authorship. © Teleinternetcafe und Treibhaus

Co-Design Urban design, by its nature, involves various disciplines and actors. Urban planners deal with a lot of different, partly conflicting requirements and positions. By involving all members of Koop5 as equal partners and by opening the planning process to the public, the decision making became more complex, but also more collective. In the process, the single authorship of the planner was replaced by a collective authorship. However, the design was not subordinate but served as an essential tool for communication and debate. The spatial vision was gradually supplemented by additional aspects, such as process and organization.

The urban development concept for Haus der Statistik is based on a multifaceted understanding of commons, referring to the right to the city, shared resources as well as practices of appropriation.

Certain design strategies were applied to promote the common good and to open alternatives for neoliberal development models.

Resources: Although Haus der Statistik it is not a listed monument, the existing building is understood as a valuable resource - both in a material and in an immaterial sense. The building stock and its context serve as a starting point for the design process. By preserving, reusing, and extending Haus der Statistik, new “layers” are added to the city with respect for the past. The

symbiosis of old and new creates specific qualities and enriches the complexity of the city in a positive way.

The design aims to link the area with the existing neighborhoods. © Teleinternetcafe und Treibhaus

Neighborhood: Haus der Statistik is not viewed in isolation but integrated into a 3-ha development area. The 50,000 sqm existing building complex will be reused and extended by 65,000 sqm of new construction. The cooperative development allows to design an overall concept for the neighborhood or so called “Kiez” which is greater than the sum of its parts. This scale opens a way for synergetic and resource-saving strategies, such as shared mobility and logistics, multifunctional spaces, cross-financing etc. For example, by implementing shared underground parking under the city hall, a great part of the open spaces can be kept car free.

The site will provide spaces for a hybrid mix of uses: housing, administration, art, culture, social affairs, and education. © Teleinternetcafe und Treibhaus

Diversity: The site will provide spaces for a hybrid mix of uses with approximately 300 affordable housing units, administrative uses and a new city hall for the district of Berlin-Mitte, as well as 25,000 sqm for art, culture, social affairs, and education. The design offers different types of open spaces and buildings. The functions are not separated from each other but mixed vertically and horizontally throughout the site. Spaces for art, culture, social affairs, and education are located at strategic points to create visibility (entrance building), to invite passers-by (ground floor zones), and to activate shared spaces (courtyard buildings). The usage of the site has already been initiated during the planning and construction phase. Vacant ground floors of the existing buildings have temporarily been allocated to pioneer users - primarily to individuals and institutions who are threatened by displacement or have difficulties to find affordable spaces in Berlin. In this way, Haus der Statistik aims to counteract the precarious situation of inner-city cultural and social uses. By testing different programs and spatial organizations hands-on, they help the explore the capabilities of the site and have a direct impact on the planning process. The pioneer users are not only temporarily activating the site but help to nurture social networks and communities in the long term.

The urban layout proposes a continuous network of open spaces. Š Teleinternetcafe und Treibhaus

Appropriation: A user-based development cannot be predetermined to the full extent. Site-specific concepts evolve over time, by trial and error, by forming networks and cooperations. Certain design principles are used to enhance leeway for adaptation. The design generates a sequence of various open spaces. The so called “Stadtzimmer” (urban living rooms) serve as breeding grounds for neighbor encounter and practices of commoning. By offering three courtyards and niches on a human scale instead of one large open space, different atmospheres can be developed in correspondence with the specific uses of each building block. This increases the users' identification with their individual “Stadtzimmer”. However, notions of private appropriation are balanced out by a high degree of (semi-)public accessibility. The ground floor zones offer high ceilings and open-plan layouts to accommodate a variety of uses. The interfaces between ground floors and open spaces remain undetermined and serve as spaces for tenants to express themselves and to interact with others. Users are invited to appropriate these spaces by carrying out activities, by placing furniture and plants, etc. A special approach is taken for the experimentation houses. This building type is designed as a low-cost, semi-finished framework for flexible uses. The spaces can be offered to non-profit organizations, start-ups, workshops etc. The raw and open building structure generates an experimental atmosphere and contributes to a dynamic expression of the ongoing activities.

The so called “Stadtzimmer” (urban living rooms) serve as breeding grounds for neighbourly encounter and practices of commoning. © Teleinternetcafe und Treibhaus

Accessibility: Access to spaces and resources is key to promote the common good. The urban development plan for Haus der Statistik proposes a continuous network of open spaces. Semiopen blocks define protected courtyards but still provide manifold insights and passages through the site. The barrier between inside and outside is porous. Access for the public is granted by the zoning plan. After all, access is not only a matter of right-of-way but also a social question. Social inclusion is fostered by several principles. An intensive process (see above) on site offers low-

treshold possibilities to participate in the design process. Different target groups are addressed by mixing manifold programs and organizational models. Affordable rents are secured by general funding models such as public housing as well as site-specific models such as sharing and crossfinancing. A sustainable land policy agenda prevents speculation and exploitation on the long term.

Plots are not privatized but remain in public ownership or will be assigned to non-profit cooperatives under leasehold.

Pioneer uses activate the site. Š Teleinternetcafe

3. Conclusion and outlook What do we have in common?

Haus der Statistik is understood as a model project which is leaving usual paths and setting a new framework for urban development. The project is not only trying to deliver a tailor-made solution for Haus der Statistik but to serve as a model for other planning processes. To increase learning effects and transferability, the progress of the project is regularly documented and published. In Berlin, several projects such as Dragoner Areal in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg already follow the example of Haus der Statistik by using similar formats of cooperation.

An appropriate approach to planning is very much depending on local conditions. Still, many aspects of the project can be applied in different contexts. Important learnings of Haus der Statistik are summed up in the following. Commons are a matter of ongoing negotiation. Since the shift to neoliberal systems common goods are increasingly threatened by commodification and

privatization. Reclaiming the commons is a joint responsibility of everyone. Innovative approaches can be triggered when politicians, institutions, developers, planners, and citizens engage in a process of mutual learning. The exchange of individual experiences and ideas can result in an alternative planning culture. In processes of codesign different ideas of urbanity and commons overlap. Top-down and bottom-up approaches can be combined to create site-specific qualities.

Architects and planners are challenged to integrate both - permanence and temporality, carefully designed spaces as well as leeway for appropriation.

Commons are as multifaceted as the city. Instead of pursuing an ideal plan, new concepts of commons are rather fluid and hybrid. Traces of the past and the present should not be neglected but treated as inherently entwined layers of the urban. Existing resources (in this case post-war architectural heritage buildings and public land) need to be valued and sustained for the common good. Practices of commoning can be understood as dynamic processes which build on the existing and remain open for future transformation.

Bibliography Haus der Statistik; a project of Koop5: Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing, District Office BerlinMitte, WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH, BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH and ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG – Cooperative for Urban Development. Volume 1. The Model Project: Initiative and Vision.

Berlin, 2019. Accessed October 26, 2020. https://hausderstatistik.org/wp-content/uploads/201908_Haus-der-Statistik_Volume-1_Model-Project-Initiative-andVision.pdf Haus der Statistik; a project of Koop5: Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing, District Office BerlinMitte, WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH, BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH and ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG – Cooperative for Urban Development. Volume 2. The Integrated Workshop Process.

Berlin, 2019. Accessed October 26, 2020. https://hausderstatistik.org/wp-content/uploads/201908_Haus-der-Statistik_Volume-2_Integrated-Workshop-Process.pdf Kunst-Werke Berlin - KW Institute for Contemporary Art and Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik. Statista: towards a statecraft of the future. Zürich: Park Books, 2020 Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung und Wohnen. „Alexanderplatz.“ Accessed October 26, 2020. https://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/staedtebauprojekte/alexanderplatz/de/geschichte/geschichte_bis_1870/index.shtml STATISTA. Statecraft – Pioneer usage – Representation. Accessed October 26, 2020. http://allesandersplatz.berlin/