Center for Art and Urbanism (ZK/U)

The Center for Art and Urbanism or ZK/U (Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanisitk), located in the Berlin district of Moabit, in the so-called Beusselkiez, is an independent art residency and creative space for cultural workers. It is also open to the local community, serving as a platform for the exchange of ideas and the joint development of projects. Additionally, it offers public access to its rooftop terrace and the surrounding greenspace, which includes a community garden project.

The Berlin “Beusselstraße” district, where the ZK/U is located, faces numerous urban and social challenges. These include the integration of a diverse population that is disproportionately affected by poverty, the creation of spaces for cultural and social activities, and the promotion of neighbourhood cohesion. In this context, the need to expand the ZK/U arose, aiming to meet the growing demand for social and cultural offerings in the area. By creating additional event and workspaces for cultural and social activities that can be used year-round, and expanding existing spaces, the project aimed to provide accessible venues for meetings and social interaction, thereby strengthening neighbourhood cohesion. At the same time, these spaces were also intended for the implementation of artistic and cultural programs and actions, fulfilling an educational function alongside their integrative role. Both of these aspects have a significant overlap in their function and complement each other. 

Challenges arose in project implementation due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. During the pandemic, supply shortages, labor shortages, and official restrictions led to construction delays. The war in Ukraine further exacerbated the situation, leading to additional price increases in construction materials and energy. To meet the EU requirements for timely project completion, the project was ultimately divided into two construction phases. The official completion of the ZK/U project allowed for the official opening of the centre in fall of 2024.

The evidence of success are the established and renovated public buildings within the Berlin-Moabit urban areas. The newly usable space comprises 3.420,00 squaremetres of workshop rooms, exhibition halls and cultural spaces that offer various cultural and educational opportunities. Over the course of the project 350 actors were involved in the participating networks, and among the supported social facilities were youth centers, schools, associations, and initiatives.

The additional opportunities for use created by the building's energetic modernization and spatial expansion enhance the ZK/U as a heterogeneous, inclusive cultural venue that contributes to social balance. The ZK/U is open to all to spend their time in the venue or participate in programmes. Through this, it promotes interaction among people of different ethnic backgrounds, education levels, and ages in Berlin-Moabit.

Berlin, like many European cities, is growing due to domestic and foreign influx of people, which presents opportunities but also urban planning challenges. This includes the scarcity of potential areas for social and cultural infrastructures, competing with other usage such as housing and commerce. The expansion of existing infrastructure are thus a central focus of Berlin’s urban development policy. By modernizing and expanding the former freight station with EFRE funds, the project makes a significant contribution to preserving local neighbourhood structures, creating new open and green spaces, and enhancing the provision of recreational, movement, and climatic balance areas in the city. The energy-efficient renovation of the ZK/U also serves as an example of contemporary architectural solutions for climate adaptation in the district. The decision to combine the historical with the new embodies the European idea of sustainable urban development in its purest form.

https://www.zku-berlin.org/