Alexander Callsen and Boris Jöns

A trail beginning at the corner of Berolinastraße and Mollstraße leads across a lawn and through a small wooded area, past an ensemble of apartment blocks all the way to Alexanderplatz. The trail traces the path of what was once Landsberger Straße. The project Steg will replace the trail with a wooden path alongside which a wildflower habitat will be planted.

The green spaces of Karl-Marx-Allee were created as passageways and urban structures in line with construction plans developed for the area by architects of the 1950s. At the time they were not yet viewed as urban nature or as habitats for animals and plants. Today the residential and commercial buildings are privately owned by various entities, which has lead to a patchwork of fenced-off areas and signs developing in the green spaces. The residents hardly use these spaces, but they have a desire for appealing outdoor areas to spend time in. In this sense they are in agreement with the Berlin Senate Charta, which lists urban green spaces as an important factor for quality of life.

The project Steg connects a neighbourhood vegetable garden to an urban space for ecological diversity. Together, the artists and residents will plant a 3-metre wide strip of wildflowers on each side of the path. Local schools, senior groups and initiatives may also participate. Picnic workshops with guest speakers will provide inspiration, and the wooden path can be used for daily walks.

The wooden path will be both a passageway and a place from which to experience nature. This competition of functions and ideas will give it great artistic potential.