TEACHING URBAN DESIGN
STEP 2: RPG The role playing game is one of the cornerstones of the studio. For this studio, 21 different actor-groups were defined as being involved in a fictionalized conflict yet based on real negotiations and tensions surrounding the development of the site in Pankow. There was a multitude of housing initiatives, several banks, the municipality, political parties, the site owner, neighbourhood activists and the media. The enactment was played out over two and a half days alternating between working and negotiation sessions, media coverage of the recent events and diverse formats like committee meetings and referendums. Participants gained an understanding of how decision-making processes unfold in society and how these kinds of projects are negotiated. They tested different strategies to achieve their role’s goals and used varying forms of communication according to the role they were playing. Through this exercise, most students understood the possibilities and limitations of the different stakeholders and became aware of the sort of spaces and programs different stakeholders demand in the city as well as the reason they are associated with specific locations and urban products. They gained a better understanding about the importance of alliances and compromise. In fact, the dynamics of the game made the students more willing to compromise and also opened their minds for more experimental contextualization of design tasks. Berlin 3
2 Berlin
Is our Referendum worth nothing?
„This is best you can get!“
Investor today
The result of the referendum yesterday was clear: 60% of Berliners voted for state rebuying the land of Pankower Tor from Mars Constructions. But in today‘s committee this result wasn‘t an issue! Mars Constructions presented the winner of the secret competition that took place yesterday evening. The Investor made compromises and offers GESOBAU to buy a part of the land to build affordable and social housing. „This is all you can get“, investor Mars commented addressing to the city. Is that all Berlin can achieve? Aren‘t politicians responsible for their voters?
What is that presentation for?
Berlin, buy your property back!
Residents angry!
Support needed As Jörg Franzen from GESOBAU assumes, if the company has to pay the offered land by its own, they won‘t be able to build any social housing on the plot! Do we have to collect donations to make the state to build social housing?
Each Taxpayer pays approximately 6.761 € taxes in Berlin each year. „Why is there no money for our wishes?“, Mrs. Schäfer, a resident, is asking.
Still not clear: What side is the elected SPD on? On their voter‘s or on the investor‘s?
„shall we pay for what politics have done wrong?“
„It was not our fault, that the land was sold to an investor. Why shall we pay for it?“ Maria Schäfer, 38 years old, is a resident in Pankow. She is a normal Pankower resident, has a family with two kids (5 and 13 years old) and a job in an architecture office. „We expect the politicians to react to our descision! Products of the RPG.
So erreichen Sie die Redaktion Straße des 17. Juni 152 Redaktion A202
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Image credit: UD Studio, WS 2015/16
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