Design Competition for Urbane Mitte Süd Decided

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Berlin, 24 August 2026 – The anonymous, single-phase design competition (realization competition) for Urbane Mitte Süd at Gleisdreieck has been decided. The jury awarded first prize to the design by KSP Engel together with nsp landschaftsarchitekten stadtplaner. Second prize went to Kleihues + Kleihues with POLA Landschaftsarchitekten, and two third prizes were awarded to Ortner & Ortner Baukunst with st raum A and to Baumschlager Eberle with Luz Landschaftsarchitektur. In total, seven renowned planning teams took part in the competition.

The winning design impressed with a clear urban design gesture, a robust and nuanced architectural stance, and an effortless integration into the highly frequented urban space at Gleisdreieck. The jury particularly highlighted the strong articulation of the plinth, which accommodates diverse uses, strengthens the public realm, and creates high-quality places to linger at the transition between park and buildings. The two vertical accents are precisely calibrated to the urban context, forming a distinctive yet discreetly integrated silhouette.

Dr. Simon Kempf, Managing Director, Periskop Development GmbH: “We are very pleased with the outcome of the competition. The winning design provides a convincing architectural response to the special requirements of this location and combines design quality, programmatic diversity, and sustainability. After many years of intensive planning, it is now becoming very concrete how Urbane Mitte Süd will look in the future. With this decision, we now move into realization.”

Prof. Petra Kahlfeldt, Senate Building Director of the State of Berlin: “The site at Gleisdreieck places high demands on architecture and integration into the park. The award-winning design meets this special inner-city location with robustness and design strength. It offers a compelling response to a context shaped equally by transport infrastructure, the park, monuments, and urban life.”

Architecture for a distinctive Berlin location

The competition addressed the design of a building ensemble on the two southern plots of Urbane Mitte Am Gleisdreieck. Around 23,750 square meters of gross floor area are planned, comprising two vertical accents of approximately 49 and 25 meters in height, connected by a shared base.

The proposal envisions a mixed-use ensemble with hospitality uses and public-oriented programs on the lower floors, in particular offerings in sports, food & beverage, and small-scale commercial uses. High standards for architecture, sustainability, space efficiency, and economic feasibility were central criteria of the competition.

The project sponsor, Urbane Mitte Am Gleisdreieck, pursues a comprehensive sustainability approach. The overall quarter has already been pre-certified in Platinum by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

Seven planning teams in the competition

The design competition was conducted from April to August 2026. Seven renowned architecture firms developed their proposals for Urbane Mitte Süd together with landscape architecture practices.

• 1st Prize: KSP Engel with nsp landschaftsarchitekten stadtplaner

• 2nd Prize: Kleihues + Kleihues with POLA Landschaftsarchitekten

• 3rd Prize: Ortner & Ortner Baukunst with st raum A

• 3rd Prize: Baumschlager Eberle with Luz Landschaftsarchitektur

The professional jurors, chaired by Prof. Markus Allmann, included Elise Pischetsrieder, Jórunn Ragnarsdóttir, and Prof. Maren Brakebusch.

Lay jurors were Prof. Petra Kahlfeldt, Senate Building Director of the State of Berlin, and Dr. Simon Kempf and Tatjana Keil of Periskop Development.

Next steps

Urbane Mitte Süd is part of the Urbane Mitte Am Gleisdreieck quarter development, located between Park am Gleisdreieck and the Gleisdreieck U-Bahn station. The binding land-use plan (Bebauungsplan) VI-140cab for the two southern plots was approved by the Berlin House of Representatives on 26 February 2026.

With the conclusion of the design competition, the next step is to further develop the winning scheme. Construction start is planned for 2027.

About Urbane Mitte Am Gleisdreieck

Urbane Mitte Am Gleisdreieck is one of Berlin’s major inner-city quarter developments. In the immediate vicinity of Potsdamer Platz, a new district with a wide range of uses is emerging at one of the city’s most important transport hubs. The development is based on an urban masterplan resulting from a 2015 competition.

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About Periskop Development

Periskop Development GmbH is a subsidiary of Periskop Partners AG and operates as an internationally active investment manager based in Berlin. The company specializes in the entire real estate value chain and develops tailored solutions for projects and fund companies, typically institutional investors. Periskop consistently integrates urban design, landscape planning, and sustainability considerations, and promotes social responsibility and an ESG-based corporate culture. Managing Directors of Periskop Development are Dr. Simon Kempf, Florian Goldgruber, and Lars Meisinger.

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