Tempelhof Airport Park: The Utility of Emptiness

Dr Julien Drouart
May 31
3 min read

Parc de l'aéroport de Tempelhof : de l'utilité du vide

Tempelhof Airport Park is located on the site of West Berlin's former airport station. Closed in 2009, its rehabilitation into a public park the following year has made it a prime leisure area. However, its future remains in doubt.

A Visit to Tempelhof Airport Park Is Optional

Berliners have a special affection for their airports. Both Tegel and Tempelhof were airlift strongholds during the 1948/49 blockade of West Berlin. Many still remember the incessant flights over the city and the candy drops during the landing phases. Closed in 2009 and 2020 respectively, they remain symbols of our identity, firmly anchored in our collective memory.

Tempelhof airport was located in the heart of the enclosed city of West Berlin. Its closure left a huge gap that had to be filled. In the 2000s, however, the new German capital experienced a serious financial crisis, even verging on bankruptcy. In the absence of sufficient resources, the public authorities abandoned the idea of in-depth redevelopment, and turned instead to citizens' initiatives aimed at festive and popular occupation of the site. This was clearly in keeping with the then mayor's somewhat misguided slogan: Berlin, poor but sexy. Moreover, its geographical proximity to the then alternative districts of Kreuzberg and Neukölln favored rapid and immediate appropriation of what was to become a park.

Since then, Berlin's financial situation has improved considerably, and the Tempelhof airport park has attracted the interest of both public authorities and private developers. Already, players on the cultural scene are vying for the hangars and buildings. The future of the park, however, has yet to be decided.

Avion et batiments de l'ancien aéroport de Tempelhof à Berlin.

A Former Airport in the City Center

Tempelhof Airport Park is within easy reach of the city center and the southern suburbs of Berlin. However, most users come from the neighboring districts of Kreuzberg and Neukölln. The park remains open from sunrise to sunset. A dozen entrances criss-cross the entire area. Only the old tarmac and runways are open to the public, while the airport station buildings remain closed. However, an airplane is on display outside.

The first impression is one of immense emptiness. The park is a plain devoid of vegetation, from which wide tarmac strips emerge. There are no trees, and therefore no shady places to take shelter from the sun. A few stands offer scooters and small electric vehicles for hire. Near the entrances, caravans offer fast food and drinks at a price that is, incidentally, very high for Berlin. The rest is empty. No events are expected, and it's up to each individual to find his or her own interest.

Park users occupy this void, shaping it as they see fit. Many stroll here with their families, children improvising games on the large lawns. Some loll about, others organize picnics and barbecues. Many people are physically active, and larger and smaller groups form here and there. Interaction, however, remains fairly low-key, with the emphasis on keeping to oneself. In the distance, community gardens are reserved for the lucky few, while the sky is occasionally covered by dozens of kites.

Des cerfs-volants dans le parc de l'aéroport de Tempelhof à Berlin.

What Future For Tempelhof Airport Park?

Over the past 15 years, Berlin has experienced a considerable demographic boom. The increase in population has led to slow urban planning and the definition of new development axes, particularly to the south of the capital. The housing shortage is the main concern of the inhabitants, threatening many community spaces and, more generally, the way people live together.

Over the years, several development projects for Tempelhof airport park have been put forward by the public authorities and their private sector partners. Following the example of Gleisdreieck Park in the Schöneberg district, the aim was to create new residential areas in a landscaped setting conducive to encounters and leisure activities. To date, these proposals have all failed due to opposition from citizens' lobbies. The latest referendum in May 2014 concerning the construction of new residential areas was a stinging disavowal for Berlin City Hall. The project for a village for refugees and asylum seekers was also criticized.

The status quo is provisional and the question remains open. Supporters of a radical transformation of Tempelhof airport park denounce the selfishness of the neighboring populations, whom they accuse of acting against the common good. On the contrary, their opponents defend the preservation of a space of total freedom which, in any case, also contributes to Berlin's democratic uniqueness and international renown. Whichever side wins, standing still is not an option, and adjustments of any kind are inevitable in the medium term.