CREATE: Illustrate the local context, the problem which the project wants to identify, the starting -up date and stages of the project (founders and origin of the collective). Edit

The city of Berlin possesses numerous wasteland areas. In 2010, the cooperative Spreefeld was created in order to buy a 5000 m2 plot of land along the Spree river.

GOALS: What is the main purpose of the project? What are its most important activities/achievements? Who are the expected beneficiaries, both direct and indirect? Edit

The first aim of the project was to protect a plot of land from a potential sale to a private investor.
The will of the members of the cooperative was indeed to create a new way to develop the urbanization of the site and to maintain a public access to the Spree river.

In July 2012, some buildings and activities were already functionning :
- A wooden built bar with massage lounge and wooded supplied sauna. The bar also comprises of a terrace looking onto the Spree river.
- A boat bar mooring on the existing landing stage.
- A yurt used as a meeting room. Until present it is used as a theatre for children and as a room for educational activities (permaculture, etc)
- A container that hosts  the ID22 team and the architects that work on the site.
- A 100 m2 alotment.
- A grocers shop selling products from local farmers

IMPACTS: What result/impact will the project have (identify both positive and negative aspects of the project: jobs, social cohesion, environment, economy, etc…)? What added value gives your project to the territory? Edit

The project really allows actors to take time to propose and create. As the collective owns the land, the plot cannot be used for a mercantile purpose involving a quick investment return. The collective gathers stakeholders of sub-projects  who can test their action in vivo.

The site combines various functions: housing, public spaces, and shops which makes it particularly interesting.

COLLECTIVE: How will this project be an example of collective management? Why did you choose this collective management approach? Edit

The cooperative, as the landlord of the plot, rents the site to temporary or permanent tenants. The rent includes all taxes.
Within the group, each person counts for one vote, which is a fundamental rule of the status of the site.
The members of the cooperative meet every month in order to make general decisions but at the same time, various autonomous working groups can make decisions related to determined topics. The site has been divided into areas managed by a sub-group. The collective management thus involves a great flexibility and trust  between the members. Despite the complexity of the project, this functioning allows everyone to hold a place and to express his opinion and know-how.
It is nevertheless necessary to improve the communication so that all the persons involved in the project can know about the entire project.

OPERATION: What is the role played by each individual within the group? Describe precisely the decision-making process implemented within/in the collective. Have these processes changed over time? Edit

RELATIONSHIP: How the different relationships (support, tolerance, rejection, blocking, spirit of improvement, etc…) between the collective and its environment (residents, government, selected and unselected partners, stakeholders, etc…) have evolved? Have the collective attracted/involved new members? Has it lost its members? Is the collective connected to other networks (inter-regional, international)? Edit

At the beginning of the project, a call for participation through the internet and social networks enables to gather about 200 persons. Because of a high participation cost ( 60 000 euros ) and a natural wearing down, the group has become stable with around 60 members. The persons who are involved in the project are diverse but the members of the cooperative encompass less diversity because of the price of the share. Nevertheless, the project has successfully managed to attract lots of sympathizers in a genuine group dynamic.
The perception of the neighbors is now positive as the fear the public access to the river would be prohibited. The actions and the works are open to the public which enables transparence. The innovative aspect of the project is also well recognized.

FUTURE: What are the future prospects (growth, development…)? What are the expectations in the short and medium term? What are your questions/concerns? Edit

In 2014, the last major component of the project should be developed. 3 buildings including 16 flats for 40 of the 60 members of the cooperative and a coworking space are to be built. The buildings will abide by environmentally friendly principles. The construction will be done by professionals but participative works are also foreseen.

MULTIPLY: What are the opportunities to transfer this experience in other territories, which are the pre-conditions for knowledge duplication/replication and developed know-how’s? Edit