Led by Tegel Projekt GmbH, the new master plan for Berlin’s former airport in the north of the city will become Berlin TXL — the Urban Tech Republic, a residential development and research park for urban technologies.
The planning and development of a ‘smart’ residential district and research park are underway for Berlin’s now-closed Tegel airport.
The name of this new industry park will be “Berlin TXL — the Urban Tech Republic,” and it will research and test urban technologies in addition to being a space for industry, business, and science.
The Urban Tech Republic will host around 1,000 small and large businesses, and start-ups, that focus on researching, developing, and producing new technological innovations.
Such topics as efficient use of energy, sustainable construction, eco-friendly mobility, and recycling will be developed in this future tech park.
Forward-thinking solutions for climate-neutral energy and new models for mobility will also be tested.
Short distances, compact planning, bike and car sharing as well as e-mobility are some of the planning highlights.
Berlin TXL will be equipped with a low energy consumption grid, with the creation of dedicated energy communities.
Sustainable and future-oriented considerations are already being implemented during construction and redesign.
The 5,000 apartments to be built in the eastern part of the former airport are set to become the largest timber construction district in the world.
The Schumacher Quartier will be a residential area covering about 46 hectares, with over 5,000 dwellings for 10,000 new inhabitants – and a 215-hectare green area developed by the state-owned company Grün Berlin.
It will also become a model project for affordable and climate-neutral construction methods.
In addition to the scientific research campus, the masterplan includes a manufacturing area, commercial spaces with hotels, restaurants, exhibition and conference pavilions, and other housing
Berlin TXL, the Urban Tech Republic’s motto could be summarized as “living, researching, teaching.”
A residential part of the masterplan will include housing for 2,500, taking up residence in the former airport terminal building.
Additional housing developments will provide 4,000 homes planned for neighborhoods Cité Pasteur and TXL Nord.
“In Berlin, as in many other cities, there is a shortage of affordable housing,” said Tegel Projekt GmbH chief executive officer Philipp Bouteiller in a statement.
“This causes people with lower incomes to be pushed out of the inner cities.”
“Our vision is different: Berlin TXL should not be a place for a high-income clientele only, but a sustainable, liveable space for people of all ages and regardless of their income,” Bouteiller added.
Led by Tegel Projekt GmbH, a state-owned business that will develop and manage this large-scale project, including Urban Tech Republic and Schumacher Quartier, the first phase is set to be completed in 2027.
This first construction phase will include a large part of the former airport building refurbishments.
The first things to be built will be the classrooms and laboratories for the 2,500 students of the new campus of the Berliner Hochschule für Technik University.
The entire project is set to take about 20 years.
Project: Berlin TXL, the Urban Tech Republic
Planners: Tegel Projekt GmbH
Client: City of Berlin
Images Courtesy of Tegel Projekt GmbH
