Berlin - Urban Densification

Berlin Urban densification
Revsion #8: viewed 550 times
2011
2050

This image is based upon population density in 2050. The area around the Berlin Hauptbahnof main station, which is notably the largest station in the European Union, is completely undeveloped. The station is significant for the EU today because it connects all trains, from all directions. From this main station, one can travel anywhere in Germany and throught the EU. In the future, it will keep up with all technological advancements in transportation and adjust.

While the population in Germany is projected to decline, Berlin will still face some dynamic changes. Even if the city's population decreases, the core of the city will become centralized around the
Hauptbahnhof because of its significance. By creating a dense city core, buildings, along with just about everything else, are going to have to become multi-functional. There will be no room for a building that is only used for 8 hours a day. The best way - and densest way - to exponentially expand, is up.

The train station is upgraded in 2050 with an LED display on the exterior to show the current train times and their platforms. This allows the public up-to-the-minute access to train schedules. Alternative transportation methods have been added such as a river taxi service, with a port that connects to the main station, and a pedestrian bridge that connects either side of the river. Additionally, a platform that provides stadium style seating allows people to sit and enjoy the space.

The idea of the Honeycomb Project is similar to Archigram's Plugin City. Here, as cities become more dense, the framework can expand to allow for a change in density. These mixed-use towers can be connected on multiple levels and allow the population to live closer than ever before to their work. When people move, instead of packing boxes, they will pack up their Pod and move it to a new location where it will be lifted into place and docked. Each Pod allows for a rooftop garden where owners can grow their own food. In addition, the facade will have LED panels that display energy usage for each Pod. This will create a dynamic exoskeleton and also provide awareness for both the owner and the public.

For more information on the Honeycomb Project, please refer to the References listed below on the right.