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Wilhelmine Gemberg Weg 10-14
10179 Berlin
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Web | http://www.spreefeldberlin.de/ |
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Maturity | |
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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