Masterplan Alte Schäferei, Berlin

The ‘Alte Schäferei’ masterplan in Berlin-Pankow builds on the Alte Schäferei framework plan that was approved by the Pankow district council in February 2023. The master plan was further developed through specialist and expert in-depth studies and was last agreed in February 2024. This was followed in June 2024 by the decision to draw up the development plan 3-99 ‘Alte Schäferei – Schönerlinder Straße’.

Central values and key figures from the framework plan were consistently adopted in the master plan. This applies, among other things, to the specifications for public green spaces, residential green spaces, biotope renaturalisation and the compensation area balance. In addition, the plans for social infrastructure (including two daycare centres and a school site) and the number of around 2,000 residential units have been implemented.

The masterplan not only meets these quantitative requirements, but also contributes to the district’s claim to innovation. The focus on sustainability and climate friendliness is particularly noteworthy. The neighbourhood is designed as a sponge city, whereby rainwater is not drained away via the sewer system but is stored and used locally. This strategy, which integrates the natural water cycle, makes the neighbourhood more resilient to the effects of climate change. In addition, the entire neighbourhood is self-sufficient in terms of heat thanks to the use of near-surface geothermal energy, which underlines the concept of heat self-sufficiency. The project also focuses on low-car mobility: an elevated car park as a mobility hub serves as a mobility hub for the neighbourhood and offers sufficient parking space.

Open space

The open space concept of the ‘Alte Schäferei’ masterplan forms the centrepiece of the design. Two large green axes run through the entire neighbourhood and also serve as fresh air corridors. The first axis, the ‘neighbourhood park’, runs from south-west to north-east and connects the sports field with the ‘green centre’, which extends to the northern neighbourhood square and merges into biotope areas there. The second axis, the “Promenade”, follows an avenue and stretches from south-east to north-west. It forms the green link between the western and central neighbourhoods and leads to the adjacent biotope areas, which merge into the open landscape at the western end.

The building structure is orientated towards open perimeter block development. This creates a permeable spatial structure that enables a clear differentiation between public movement spaces, semi-public transition areas and private residential courtyards. Each courtyard is equipped with at least one perimeter opening to ensure good lighting, ventilation and easy access. On streets with heavy traffic, such as Schönerlinder Strasse, the edges of the blocks are closed as far as possible for noise protection reasons. This creates a well-structured and functional residential environment. This fulfils both the requirements of sustainable urban development and the quality of life of future residents.

Site plan