Radonnee for October 26, 2022 – Reconditioning an Unused Berlin Airport into Environmentally Friendly Facilities.

Every day, it seems, buildings are being abandoned by businesses. What happens then is another structure is built, which commits the use of resources and the takeover of, perhaps, an open green space. Both acts strain our environment and propels climate change forward. What’s the solution? Reuse those existing structures for something else.

An Old Airport Flies Again

That is exactly what has happened with Berlin’s Tegel International Airport. Built in 1948 during the Cold War, Tegel became the major airport in Berlin after Templehof was seen as inadequate for landing larger planes. It stayed open until November 2020.

Under an initiative called the Tegel Projekt, the airport buildings and grounds will be reconditioned for “innovative research and production” for 1,000 businesses and 20,000 employees. It will even have a college campus.

Another part of the old airport grounds will become affordable housing with 5,000 apartments that will have a shopping center, daycare, schools, etc.

A Friend to the Environment

One of the most positive aspects of the Tegel Project is that this “community” focuses on renewable energy. That means it will be inline with Berlin’s goal to be climate neutral by 2050.

In essence, the old airport will become a model for cities in the future. It will be free of cars and focus on cycling versus walking. Now that’s a place I want to live in, although I do enjoy walking just as much as a good bike ride. There will also be electric buses and a tramway.

The “Schumacher Quartier,” which is the part of the community where housing is planned, will be built with the hope that people will socialize and engage more with their surroundings. In other words, as a spokesperson for the project points out, “the streets and squares [will] belong to the people again, rather than to cars.”

Last Thoughts

This blog is really about bicycle travel and not so much about urban or city changes. However, the places we ride through and visit as bicyclists feel better when planners think about environmental impact.

Obviously, our world is in bad shape and our climate is under severe duress. The fact the people of Berlin have invested in creating a community like the one in this project is a great solution.

What are your thoughts about communities or cities of the future? If you liked this post, please like, comment, and share.