NOT WITHOUT YOU!

WE, SIGNA, ARE THE OWNERS OF THE KARSTADT AM HERMANNPLATZ BUILDING ENSEMBLE. WE BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF KARSTADT AM HERMANNPLATZ, AND SO WE DEVELOPED A VISION TO SECURE THIS LOCATION FOR THE LONG TERM.

In 2019, we presented our vision for the Karstadt am Hermannplatz project to the public for the first time. Since then, we’ve presented our project idea to various committees in this city and talked to many people. We contacted you on social media, we were able to listen to you during meeting hours in the former HRMNNBOX and we engaged in conversation on our bicycle street. This allowed us to garner important insights that we then incorporated into our revised concept for the Karstadt am Hermannplatz project. You will find a compact summary on this website. We hope you enjoy the read!

 

WE AIM TO CREATE A MIXED-USE PROPERTY AND AN IDENTITY-CREATING ARCHITECTURE IN ORDER TO MAKE KARSTADT A LIVELY SPACE.

Karstadt am Hermannplatz Nutzungsmix

UM EINEN LEBENDIGEN ORT FÜR KARSTADT ZU SCHAFFEN, SOLLEN EINE GEMISCHT GENUTZTE IMMOBILIE UND EINE IDENTITÄTSSTIFTENDE ARCHITEKTUR ENTSTEHEN.

THE VISION

WE AIM TO CREATE A MIXED-USE PROPERTY AND AN IDENTITY-CREATING ARCHITECTURE IN ORDER TO MAKE KARSTADT

 

A new Karstadt is the central component of the new design: in order to secure the location for a department store concept for the future, new impulses are urgently needed.

  • We’re inspired by the long history of the site and propose to rebuild the building in its historic form, before its destruction in World War II by the SS in April of 1945. This restores Karstadt’s identity-creating architecture, which in turn makes it more attractive.
  • At the same time, this architecture creates new spaces that allow for a lively new mix of utilisations from which Karstadt will benefit. This mix creates a new scope for living and working as well as for community-oriented services that meet the needs of the growing city and its people.

Karstadt and its subtenants are to remain as strong local suppliers for the neighbourhood in a sustainable dimension. This means that workplaces for local employees can still be secured in the future.

The proportion of retail stores will not increase compared to the current level: we want small businesses in the area to continue to benefit from the attractiveness and visitor frequency of a strong Karstadt department store.

With a highly efficient energy concept, a mobility concept to adjust traffic at the location, a sophisticated urban mining strategy and early participation of all project stakeholders, we want to develop an ecological, social and sustainable project for you.

The mix of utilisations that we propose is summarised in this illustration:

THE IDEA

WHEN ALL OF BERLIN COMES TOGETHER TO WORK ON AN IDEA, GREAT THINGS CAN HAPPEN.

That’s why we invite everyone from Neukölln, Kreuzberg and Berlin to discuss our vision of a new identity-creating Karstadt am Hermannplatz. We are convinced that this project offers many great opportunities for residents, businesses and all Berliners. We want to explore and realise these opportunities with you.

The existing situation is not an easy one: visitor numbers and sales have been declining for years, energy efficiency is poor and operating costs are accordingly very high and represent a major problem for Karstadt. The multi-storey car park is half empty, the parking yard and the delivery (carried out outdoors) are no longer up-to-date. More and better things can be achieved right here! In an open, constructive exchange with all stakeholders, we want to create a strong connection with the neighbourhood, make plans to deal with actual needs and ensure social participation: this is the only way that future uses and above all Karstadt itself can function in a sustainable way. The new building is not only intended to provide a home for Karstadt. It is intended to create a space for the neighbourhood that residents can use in a variety of creative ways.

Under the leadership of the responsible administration, we want to involve you in co-designing the Karstadt am Hermannplatz in a transparent way. The results are to flow into an urban development contract with the public sector – and thus become a binding commitment. We hope that the project will become a model for the implementation of the new Berlin Guidelines for Citizen Participation – and it will NOT SUCCEED WITHOUT YOU!

NOT WITHOUT…

A NEW KARSTADT

Karstadt and its subtenants should continue to be the popular local shopping location for the neighbourhood. A modern Karstadt 2.0 with, among other things, a focus on regional products, the special features of the location and a practical Click&Collect concept.

2,000 ADDITIONAL JOBS

The revised department store concept offers employees secure jobs. The new utilisations are expected to create great diversity as well as new jobs.

5,000M² FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

We will provide 5,000m² for affordable housing in non-profit ownership.

3,500M² PUBLIC ROOFTOP TERRACE

The spacious rooftop terrace is open to the public, freely accessible and will be used for cultural events and gastronomy to increase the quality of life and stay.

3,600M² OF NEW SPACES FOR THE COMMON GOOD

Daycare centres, artists’ studios, sports and rehearsal rooms, spaces for local associations, education or social work are intended to find room here.

700 NEW BICYCLE PARKING SPACES

 

 With a future-oriented mobility concept, we want pedestrians, cyclists and public transport to have the right of way.

OUR NEW BUILDING SHOULD CORRESPOND TO THE FORM OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING FROM 1929, WITH A MODERN INTERPRETATION BY ARCHITECT DAVID CHIPPERFIELD. WITH REGARD TO MATERIALS AND UTILISATION, WE WANT TO DO JUSTICE TO THE DIVERSITY OF TODAY’S NEIGHBOURHOOD, ITS RESIDENTS AND TO BERLIN AS A COSMOPOLITAN CITY.”

Timo Herzberg – CEO / Group Executive Board

DROP IN & JOIN THE DISCUSSION: TOGETHER FOR A BETTER PROJECT!

VISIT US IN THE “ZUKUNFT” (“FUTURE”) INFO SPACE ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN THE GALERIA, IN THE PALA OR ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, OR E-MAIL US AT  info@nichtohneeuch.berlin