The Kiezblock in Antonkiez created a new square on Maxstraße.
But how does a square become a place for the people who live there?
What qualities does it need, and how can a diverse community be created that cares for the square?
Resilient Cities, together with the Wedding Zentrum district coordinator, the Climate Department, and the Road and Green Space Office of the Mitte District, invited people to get involved.
We collected suggestions for place names and requirements for the future use of the square on the street and at the local convenience store.
We used the areas around the trees on the square to try out the residents’ initial ideas directly with simple temporary solutions.
The Palestinian Youth Club wanted an exhibition space, built it with us, and suggested to take the responsibility to take care of the tree pit from now on.
At the Spaghetti Festival, the first festival held at the new square, we provided support in the form of furniture and cooking facilities. We gathered further ideas for the square and built with visitors new prototypes using wood from the BSR Day (a collection of old furniture through the cities garbage company), which was taking place at the same time.
We kept returning to the square and continued to build and improve the prototypes. By persevering, we were able to recruit new members to the square group.
The square group has decided to meet on the square every first Saturday of the month for a joint activity, weather permitting.
At the first Saturday meeting, pennant chains painted by local kindergarten children were hung up and the exhibition space was improved.
A signal group with now 60 members meets regularly for activities and to develop new ideas.
The group is building a mobile storage box for benches, tables, toys, brooms, and litter pickers, with support from the Climate Department of the Mitte District Office.
With support from the Pankstraße neighborhood management, the group is planning to plant flowers and build a square kitchen in the spring.
Every first Saturday of the month.
At the new square on
Maxstraße.
And anytime at:
Signal:
and:
maxstrasse.platzgruppe.org
With the kind support of:
