Planning a large district like Schönefeld Nord is a complex task that requires extensive coordination and decision-making. The municipality has set high standards for its new district. Schönefeld Nord is intended to become a livable and future-proof neighborhood for all people and set new benchmarks in urban development.
To ensure the high quality of the winning design from 2022 and to address remaining open questions, the so-called Schönefeld LABs (LAB as an abbreviation for laboratory) were launched in November last year. This extensive workshop process provided a platform for holistic and solution-oriented discussions on open issues and key topics.
The results of the event series have been compiled into a comprehensive documentation, which is now available online for all interested parties.
Aims and Structure of the Process
The primary goal of the process was to refine, specify, and further develop the master plan for Schönefeld Nord. Additionally, it facilitated a shared understanding of the future district’s requirements and the resulting tasks for all involved stakeholders. Expert contributions sparked intensive discussions on various key topics.
The LABs, conducted between November 2023 and April 2024, were preceded by an introductory event (also referred to as the kick-off). Subsequently, five specialized workshops took place in the municipality’s premises:
- LAB #1: „Housing and Business“
- LAB #2: „Sustainability, Climate Change, and Biodiversity“
- LAB #3: „Mobility“
- LAB #4: „Open Space“
- LAB #5: „Social Infrastructure, Education, and Culture“
To ensure that the wealth of insights was preserved, the event series concluded with a final session, the so-called Summary LAB.
Participants and Contributions
The participants included representatives from the municipal administration and the planning teams of Reicher Haase Assoziierte, Carla Lo Landscape Architecture, and Lindschulte Traffic Planning. Additionally, the project manager, DSK GmbH, and numerous representatives of local politics, including members of the municipal council and political committees of Schönefeld, took part.
Three permanent experts were also involved, each bringing specialist knowledge from different fields to enrich the discussions. Furthermore, presentations by external specialists provided scientific insights and shared experiences from both implemented and planned projects, forming the foundation for subsequent discussions.
The organization and execution of the events were managed by DSK, with urban planner Uli Hellweg (Hellweg-Urban-Concepts) serving as the moderator.
