Maselakepark Berlin

Water is the defining element of the park, which stretches for 1.1 km along the banks of the Havel. The park forms an essential section of the Havel riverbank path of the water city of Spandau. The existing potential of the site forms the basis of the design and is worked out as its own identity through targeted landscape architectural interventions.

A spacious promenade as a fortified water edge recalls the historical course of the Spandau fortress moat and the former industrial use of the northern harbor. The existing natural stone paving will be reinstalled, interrupted by large-format concrete slabs that trace the characteristic course of the harbor basin. The harbor jetty, a lowered part of the Nordhafen promenade close to the water, is intercepted by a wall made of concrete elements. The wall will be differentiated into seating steps in some areas. Integrated steps lead down to the harbor jetty.



A place exposed to the sun that invites you to linger by the water, dangling your feet in the water and watching the hustle and bustle of the harbor. The Havel balcony, which extends out onto the water like the prow of a ship, forms the end. Both a landmark and a vantage point, it opens up a view of the expanse of the Havel landscape. The soft embankment with the impressive stand of alder and willow trees of Maselakebucht Süd is designed as a scenic bank. Slightly modeled meadow areas form varied bank areas with different slope inclinations, reed bundles are placed in front of the bank.

A green fringe of woodland traces the edges of the adjacent neighborhood. The shrub plantings of willows form clearly defined spatial boundaries that make the Maselakepark functional independently of the further development of the building plots.

AppreciationGerman Landscape Architecture Award 2009

Jury verdict: The Maselakepark is a contemporary urban open space. A low-key and at the same time valuable waterfront promenade follows the historic course of the Spandau fortress moat as a paved water edge.

The wooden footbridge in front of the water edge is lowered, creating a direct water reference.

The near-natural waterfront spaces are landscaped with alder and willow trees. The discreetly modelled meadow areas offer places to linger. The design is convincing due to the intelligent interplay between a contemporary formal language, a high user acceptance and the creative interpretation of historical references. It is precisely from this unobtrusiveness and high creative power as well as tranquillity that this work derives its quality.