The Symbiotic Village at Berlin, Germany | Architecture Thesis

Site Context

The landscape of Berlin was selected as the intervention site in order to explore issues related to the city, the aftermath of fascism, the persecution of Jews, and World War II in general. The student has been a Holocaust Ambassador with the Holocaust Educational Trust since 2017, and therefore chose to channel her passions for this period of history into her studies where possible. The chosen sites are voids in Berlin’s urban landscape that have not been addressed since World War II. The nearby Jewish retirement community, which was turned into a ghetto by the Nazis and is now a Jewish cemetery, and the Klosterruine church, which was destroyed during the Berlin bombing.

The aim is to bring life back into these spaces in a variety of ways in order to fill these voids. It appeared necessary to devise a plan that addresses various void forms caused by various types of scars. The project thus addresses voids in human communities (the Jewish population), voids in endangered species (extinction of birds), and voids in the physically destroyed landscape (heritage buildings bombed during the War). The site visit identified various locations that made these voids worse. These voids will now be addressed on one physical site, with the hope that in the future, other voids can be filled similarly.

Design Process

The project aims to include spaces for humans and birds that are specifically intended for the species in need. This will encourage a reciprocal relationship that will address issues of loneliness and lack of purpose, which can slow down the ageing process in retirement communities. It will also serve as a refuge for numerous birds that are being driven from their natural habitat by people and may even go extinct.

During the Cold War, the Berlin wall no man’s land was infiltrated with birds, which were pushed out of the city when the space was reclaimed. This has accelerated the rate of extinction for numerous bird species that lack nesting locations, along with contemporary building renovations in Berlin. A sense of neighbourhood and community is fostered between species that can coexist peacefully when one sees elderly citizens who have been welcomed back into a community they were banished from and birds who have also been given a break from their continual search for a place to call home.

The design process involved the integration of former elements of the Klosterkirche, exploring appealing environments for elderly citizens with varying health impediments, and simultaneously exploring materials and spaces that will attract birds into the space. These were carefully analysed for various birds, taking into account their migratory status, ideal habitat, and also spaces for those with neurodegenerative diseases. The best ways to rebuild from ruin were explored so as to preserve views of the site and cause the least amount of harm to the historical significance of the church, which was listed. This indicates that the project’s entire design was made with disassembly in mind, using a timber structure with specially made hollow glulam beams to house the social birds.

Final Outcome

The final proposal encourages interaction among the two distinct organisms that coexist in close physical proximity, an indication of a mutually beneficial relationship between various individuals or groups. The original Klosterkirche serves as the main birdhouse and provides refuge to the birds. The only purpose for which humans can occupy this area is to observe the birds; they are protected from human intrusion by a biophilia canopy.

This space calls for reflection on the times when we allowed conflict and devastation to overwhelm our built environment out of a sense of ungratefulness. For the first time in eight decades, life is welcomed back into the void and is valued differently. The birds serve as a symbol of freedom in the project, which also becomes a metaphor for other exploited communities.

Freedom for the Jewish Community as well as life and freedom for those who are close to death. King Solomon believed he could communicate with birds through their language, which hopefully resonates around this space and allows birds to be present and welcomed. There is a sense of liberation found for those who are welcomed back into a space they were once shunted from.

Conclusion: The project provides a unique perspective on how architecture can create a reciprocal relationship between two different organisms and serve as a medium of interaction between these species.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]