Ostkreuz squares

A new public open space has been under construction around Ostkreuz station since spring 2022. Grün Berlin is redesigning the forecourts so that they offer more than just traffic areas. The connection to the station will be improved, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, while at the same time creating an open urban space with a high quality of stay.

The project follows a holistic approach: new trees and plants improve the microclimate, while durable materials such as wood and natural stone enable sustainable use. Seating and spacious plazas turn the forecourts into lively places - for travellers and residents alike.

Today, Ostkreuz station is Deutsche Bahn's most important transfer station in Berlin and a central hub in the south-east of the city. The extensive modernisation between 2006 and 2018 and the growing importance of regional transport made it necessary to redesign the forecourts. The state of Berlin and Deutsche Bahn launched a realisation competition in 2015 to structure the access points to the city more clearly and to better connect the neighbouring districts. The design by Planorama Landschaftsarchitektur impressed with a solution that combines design and functionality. The new square spaces create transitions into all four neighbouring districts - Travekiez, Victoriastadt, Rummelsburger Bucht and Rudolfkiez - and strengthen the urban orientation.

Between May 2022 and June 2024, Grün Berlin redesigned the southern forecourts - Rudolfkiez (south-west) and Rummelsburger Bucht (south-east). Berliner Wasserbetriebe had previously developed the areas using civil engineering.

For the northern forecourts - Travekiez (north-west) and Victoriakiez (north-east) - additional measures were necessary in the surrounding area. Work on the Victoriakiez began in November 2024, where a low-barrier square with light-coloured, large-format natural stone is being created - robust, durable and precisely tailored to local requirements.