In times of digitalization, structures that once shaped our daily life and played a major role in the dynamic of our cities now fall obsolete. The well-established retail model of the department store is one of these species going extinct. In Germany, Karstadt was the largest and best known department store chain that dominated the retail market. Once a symbol of wealth and urban development, the large buildings combined the functions of commercial, social and mobility hubs and occupied key locations in the city. Their disappearance leaves disturbing voids in the urban grid - and is offering a unique opportunity to regain public space, promote diversity of uses and re-conceptualize the “heart of the city”.
The Urban Design Hackathon is a 24h online workshop for international students from four European universities. In mixed teams you will be developing urban design ideas that define the future of the soon to be closed Karstadt department store at Berlin Leopoldplatz in the diverse working-class district of Berlin-Wedding. The aim is to contribute to the development of a productive and resilient city.
Located directly at central Leopoldplatz, the department store with its corner location and around 130 m facade is the most distinctive property on Müllerstrasse. The large building is visible from afar, has direct access to the Leopoldplatz underground station and extends over approx. 9,500 m² of floor space across the entire block between Schulstrasse, Leopoldplatz and Antonstrasse. |
