Urban Therapy - Tempelhof Hoffnung (Hope)

Tempelhof Hoffnung is an attempt to create a cultural narrative for Tempelhofer Feld in Berlin – a site with complex and difficult, and, in some part, forgotten history. My proposal is a symbolical urban therapy – way to deal with harboured collective trauma by means of the immersive experience of the engaging and time-bending urban structure.

Sometimes in PTSD trauma can be followed by holes in memory. During psychotherapy those memories have to be dug up, relived and finally, patient will heal. If this is not done, it can come up in unsuspected ways, slowly deteriorating patient's mental health. What if the patient is society? Some parts of Tempelhof's history are forgotten. Critics have claimed that unresolved historical traumas can be the reason why the site is so problematic. Tempelhof Hoffnung provides cultural narrative for the site. Main point is to create immersive space which is a story itself, by experiencing which, people can relive the past and heal. The name - Tempelhof Hoffnung (Hope) refers to the name Tempelhof Freiheit (Freedom), which does not reflect history of the place. The design is comprised of 3 parts: Labirynth (representing past), Time Machine (present) and Runways (future). Labirynth is net of underground tunnels inspired by existing paths in Tempelhof upon which one can see outlines of historical buildings. Labirynth has been created using 2 kinds of shapes – one derived from historical remains and the other from the directions of Time Machine, structure revolving around the central water tank. The Time Machine is represented by shapes of a clock. Passing of time is one of the most important principles in the project, as it shows past, present and future together. The tunnels enable users to experience time not only through the journey among historical remains, but also because the experience of time blurs in the Labirynth. Confusing shapes as well as lack of field orientation in underground make users lost in fabric of time. The tunnels are punctured by skylights, which let the light in during the day. During the night, they light up space of the park. They also make up a pattern of approach lights. From underground the rhytm of skylights symbolizes the passing of years or ticking of a clock. From above they create a map of subconscious. All of the tunnels lead to light – Time Machine. The water tank is a mirror – it reflects the sky and symbolically links underground with heaven. Runways are a connection to future, devoted to art.