Ostkreuz squares

Since construction work began in spring 2022, the redesign of the forecourts around Berlin's Ostkreuz station has not only improved access for pedestrians and cyclists in line with the Berlin Mobility Act, but has also transformed a highly frequented transport hub into an urban open space with a high quality of stay. As a compensatory and replacement measure for Deutsche Bahn's construction activities, new trees and plants will be planted at Ostkreuz, which will also help to cool the microclimate. The use of sustainable materials such as natural stone and wood as well as the new construction of recreational and relaxation areas also make the forecourts at Ostkreuz a sustainable urban development project that benefits residents and travellers alike.

Berlin Ostkreuz station is the busiest Deutsche Bahn transfer station in Berlin, an important public transport hub and the capital's south-eastern entrée.

The modernisation of the station between 2006 and 2018 by Deutsche Bahn has given the entrances a new and special significance. The additional use by regional transport requires a redesign of the newly created forecourt areas.

In 2015, the state of Berlin and Deutsche Bahn held a competition to realise the forecourts at Ostkreuz in order to better connect the station with the neighbouring urban districts and, at the same time, to achieve the most uniform design possible for the entrances and exits of the station by highlighting the special character of the open spaces. The winning design by Planorama Landschaftsarchitektur will now create urban links to the four surrounding neighbourhoods of Travekiez, Victoriastadt, Rummelsburger Bucht and Rudolfkiez. At the same time, the necessary transport infrastructure is being installed.

Construction work on the southern forecourts - Rudolfkiez in the south-west and Rummelsburger Bucht in the south-east - has been completed. Grün Berlin implemented the redesign of these squares between May 2022 and June 2024. Berliner Wasserbetriebe had previously realised the civil engineering development of the areas.

For the northern forecourts - Travekiez in the north-west and Victoriakiez in the north-east - there are more extensive dependencies on further construction measures on site. The civil engineering development by Berliner Wasserbetriebe is also even more complex than on the south side. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2024.