Abstract

The project explores the concept of reimagining Karstadt – a traditional department store on Müllerstrasse, Wedding into a school fostering social integration and inclusivity. The school aims to create a vibrant learning environment for students from various backgrounds and ages. The thesis outlines the design proposal- a safe space for the learners focusing on spatial qualities, user interaction and sustainable practices. The aim is to reflect the diverse characteristics of the Berlin Wedding through education by promoting interaction and respect.  This purpose is realized mainly through analysing the existing social and spatial site condition and its surrounding context.

Introduction

We currently inhabit the era of digitalization and the post-Corona period. In recent decades, the retail landscape has changed dramatically. Consumers, who were only dependent on department stores, now prefer online shopping resulting the physical stores becoming obsolete. These retail shopping complexes, once was an iconic symbol of urban vibrancy and prosperity, now facing closure or struggling to retain their former glory.

This thesis focuses on the Karstadt Müllerstrasse - a traditional department store on Leopoldplatz, Berlin-Wedding. It was constructed in the 1970s, less than 2 Km from the Berlin Wall. Today Karstadt is on the verge of abandonment with its inward-facing spatial layout, endless deep floor plans and windowless facades, facing the mentioned challenges. This research explores the potential for repurposing Karstadt beyond its traditional retail function.

Program Proposal

The project proposal is to reimagine the retail relic as a doorway to a safe space for children where outside they have all kinds of educational institutes fragmented, confined accompanying caged playgrounds, seldom unsafe, on the contrary inside of the building, they will have their world - a village of children. Karstadt will house three different types of schools under one roof where they can learn, play and grow together. The aim is to design a space that creates an informal, inviting, playful and educational atmosphere that can act as a centre and thereby contribute to its active urban fabric.

Design Proposal

The concept of the design proposal portrays a vertical village which will accommodate three educational institutions: a primary school, a high school, and an integrated secondary school. The core idea is to create an interactive learning environment where students of all age groups reside within the same vertical village but attend separate schools. The three school blocks, each dedicated to its respective age group, are connected by a plaza. This connected plaza acts as a forum, like a living room in a house, with its atriums that not only serve as light wells but also house gardens in the basement levels, contributing to the village's landscape. The cafeteria at the central plaza in the basement mirrors the village square, which will be the communal hub for students from all three schools. The plazas on each floor act as an extension of the village square. The proposed design intends to promote a collective identity through shared spaces, promoting parallel learning, thus fostering a unique and interactive educational environment, acting as a village.