Quest (Christian Burkhard & Florian Kohl)

Urban spaces inherently evolve over time. What may start as overlooked or enclosed areas can often transform into pulsating public hubs that infuse life into cities. The courtyards of Berlin, primarily birthed during its expansive growth phases, have seamlessly woven themselves into the city’s tapestry, bridging neighborhoods both physically and socially while also serving ecological purposes.

 

During Berlin’s phase of rapid expansion, the formation of city blocks encapsulated existing plots, giving rise to spacious courtyards. These spaces, which sometimes were strictly functional or closed out, and in some cases destroyed by war evolved into vibrant public realms over time. Today, these courtyards are cherished pathways, doubling as public parks or even as green infrastructures that ingeniously recycle water through artificial wetlands.

 

In a deep dive into this transformative journey of Berlin, we’ll examine four representative cases, illustrating their rich history and the evolution of city’s physical structure into a treasured urban alcove. This exploration is poised to spark dialogues on how urban void can be reimagined to breathe life back into the cityscape.

 

- Christian Markus Burkhard serves as a Senior Lecturer at Universitat Kassel in the Faculty of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture (ASL). His research prominently focuses on the integration of nature within architectural designs, emphasizing the benefits of incorporating trees into building facades for both aesthetic appeal and enhanced thermal comfort. Since 2013, Burkhard has collaborated with Florian Kohl on various projects aimed at fostering diverse, lively urban spaces. Their joint efforts led to the creation of a vertical green structure in Berlin's Prinzessinnengarten. Further solidifying their partnership, the two co-founded Quest in 2016, an initiative that centers on architecture's pivotal role in supporting urban ecosystems.

Florian Kohl is currently a professor at the University of Kassel, he researched and taught for several years at the Technical University of Berlin and the Bartlett School of Architecture, London. He is also a co-founder of the NBBA (Network of Co-housing Architects in Berlin), Teameleven, and Instant City, Berlin. Florian Kohl founded the Berlin-based fatkoehl architects in 2002. A major trait of the studio's work is its constant search for ways of relating people through architecture with their urban surroundings. In this context, his studio spearheaded efforts to elaborate alternative architectural production models on an all but stale Berlin housing market in the early 2000s.

 

Artist: Quest, Laboratory for Urban Ecosystems, Berlin

Sponsor: Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing Berlin

Idea and concept: Christian Burkhard & Florian Kohl

Design and layout: Tim Sawford

Collages and illustrations: Gabriel Fortenbacher