Controversy surrounds the design and layout of Breitscheidplatz, with disagreements over the placement of its central monument
Breitscheidplatz Square Undergoes Redesign, Aiming for Improved Safety and Aesthetics
The memory of the tragic 2016 attack at Breitscheidplatz in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf continues to cast a long shadow, influencing debates on security and urban design. As the city prepares for the 2025 Christmas market, changes are afoot to transform the square, focusing on enhancing its quality, greenery, and design elements.
District Mayor Kirstin Bauch (Greens) is spearheading these changes, aiming to create a more inviting and secure environment. Security at Breitscheidplatz will no longer rely on massive barriers, but rather on traffic guidance. The responsible entity for implementing this new traffic calming concept is the district authority of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, in coordination and sometimes disagreement with the Berlin Senate.
The redesign of Breitscheidplatz includes the possibility of art objects and seating areas playing a new role. The traffic impacts of the planned barriers are being examined before the Christmas market to ensure smooth flow. During the festive season, bollards and metal cages will be moved to the median strip on Budapester Straße, leaving only one lane of traffic in each direction.
In a bid to reduce traffic congestion, the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf plans to reduce Budapester Straße to one lane of traffic in each direction, eliminating the possibility of a direct drive onto Breitscheidplatz. The city development administration has demanded adjustments to the security concept, but the district councilor insists that the Senate has hardly reacted to it.
The Breitscheidplatz square has had massive bollards and metal cages as security measures since 2016. Originally, these barriers were intended as a temporary anti-terror measure, but they have now become a permanent fixture. Senator for Urban Development Christian Gaebler (SPD) has criticized the lack of an aesthetically pleasing solution and compared the martial image at Breitscheidplatz to London's Trafalgar Square barriers.
However, representatives of the Greens emphasize that such elements do not exclude, but rather enliven the space. A new security concept involves replacing the metal cages on Rankestraße with half-buried barriers that are less conspicuous but equally effective. After the Christmas market, the barriers on Budapester Straße are planned to remain in place for several years due to the upcoming renovation of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche bell tower.
District councilor Oliver Schruoffeneger (Greens) emphasizes that a security concept has been in place for the Breitscheidplatz square for two years. The security of the square during the Christmas market in 2025 is guaranteed. Despite the ongoing debates, the redesign of Breitscheidplatz is a step towards creating a safer and more aesthetically pleasing environment for all.
