Senftenberger Ring, Berlin

As one of the redensification measures in the Märkisches Viertel, the “Theodor-Quartier” on Senftenberger Ring was built on behalf of GESOBAU. The large West Berlin housing estate was built in the 1960/70s. It is characterised by space-creating, large-scale residential buildings on the periphery and infrastructure buildings surrounded by landscaped open spaces in the centre. Arnold und Gladisch and DMSW designed a campus for intergenerational living on the former school wasteland. The ensemble of six solitary buildings with 338 residential units fits in between the school buildings and the retirement home.

The cubes, which are almost identical in terms of their base area, vary in terms of their positioning and storeys. Four seven/eight-storey buildings are orientated towards the neighbouring residential meander to the north. The two southern two-storey buildings mark the transition to the park and pond. The three powdery rose and three green solitary buildings nevertheless form an independent urban figure.

The entrance to the neighbourhood on Senftenberger Ring is formed by the residential building for with a day-care centre on the two lower floors and the residential building with commercial and communal areas on the ground floor. The green neighbourhood square with its communicative seating and play areas can be reached via the central access axis with numerous bicycle racks and functional units. Covered bicycle parking spaces and car parking facilities are located in the outer areas of the site. The open spaces of the entire Theodor-Quarter are characterised by generous lawns, individual existing trees and complementary groups of trees and shrubs. A selection of robust, native tree species and staggered planting in front of the terraces on the ground floor completes the landscaped character of the open spaces on Senftenberger Ring. The plants selected are low-maintenance, drought-resistant and hardy.