Kotbusser Tor, A Case Study
Civic Art: Introduction to Urban Design with Alan Plattus
Fall 2024
For this project, I researched Kottbusser Tor in Berlin, focusing on its role as a public space shaped by the Turkish immigrant community. As a one-week exercise, this pushed me to find different forms of visual storytelling that challenge the reader to critically examine what might be “just a train stop” as a flourishing cultural hub.
History and Representations
Using maps, photographs, and plans, I documented its transformation from a post-war traffic hub into a vibrant, mixed-use area. I analyzed its dense urban fabric, showing how commercial and residential spaces interact with public transit, fostering community life.
Finding the Importance
Through comparative examples, I explored the site’s significance in urban stewardship and identity, drawing lessons from multicultural hubs globally. The project illustrates how Kottbusser Tor’s unique cultural and spatial dynamics make it a critical anchor in Kreuzberg’s urban landscape.