HEART OF THE KIEZ
URBAN DESIGN
COMPETITION 2025
Design Your Dream Square –
For the Berlin Region
Your design could help shape a new town centre
— maybe even Germany’s answer to Poundbury.
The winning entries may inspire a real future project in or near Berlin.
This competition is our response to the terrible new “squares” of recent years — like the gray concrete desert at Berlin Central Station (“Washingtonplatz” and “Europaplatz”) or the blinking consumerist wasteland at “Uber-Platz” in Mediaspree. We think these non-places do not even deserve to be called a square.
We want to show: urban squares can once again be lively, beautiful, and humane — places to linger, meet, and enjoy. Places that can last for centuries. By using enduring wisdom and classical beauty.
Goal of the Competition
Design a new urban square (max. 100m wide) as the centre of a new neighbourhood.
It can be placed anywhere: either in Berlin (to fill in urban gaps) or in a smaller town nearby (as part of a new development).
Think of it as the starting point for a new urbanist community, a completely new “Kiez” (dense, urban quarter in the Berlin area).
We’re not just looking for “nice”: We want bold, beautiful and timeless — the kind of square that could rival:
Berlin’s famed “Kiez” squares: the original designs of Savignyplatz, Kollwitzplatz, Boxhagener Platz, Viktoria-Luise-Platz, Hackescher Markt, Ludwigkirchplatz, Chamissoplatz, Mexikoplatz, etc…
Historical inspirations in and around Berlin: Leipziger Platz (historical), Hallesches Tor / Belle-Alliance-Platz, old Potsdam
Or even Queen Mother Square in Poundbury (UK).
Also look beyond: e.g. Mediterranean plazas/piazzas can provide ample inspiration.
Mehringplatz in Berlin-Kreuzberg around 1900. It was historically called ‘Belle-Alliance-Platz’. The vibrant urban square was one of the peak examples of Berlin’s accelerated growth since the middle of the 19th century.
The main square of Cayalá in Guatemala was built in the 2010s. It shows what is possible even today when a new project is grounded deeply in the vernacular and classical language of the place.
Queen Mother Square in Poundbury, built in the 2010s. While the surface parking is an obvious flaw, the square is still able to create a classical spectacle and still feels surprisingly.. normal and natural.
The main square of Brandevoort in the Netherlands features a market hall finished in the 2000s. The New Urbanist project by Berlin-based office Krier & Kohl is regarded as an outstanding success.
What to include
Your design must include:
A plan of the new square (scale 1:1000)
An aerial/isometric (top view) drawing or render of the new square
An elevation or perspective of at least one side of the square
A landmark building: eye-catching, taller (up to 7 floors or a dome/tower), mixed use (including public functions)
Include these features:
Mixed-use buildings (shops, cafés, galleries etc. on ground floor)
A civic space with fountain(s), greenery, street furniture
“Gentle density” — a compact, human-scale layout with perimeter blocks
Strong urban identity: makes a statement and will be recognised publicly
Drawings can be hand-drawn or digital (no AI-generated work allowed).
Submit high-resolution files (A3 recommended).
Who Can Join?
Individuals or groups (up to 3 people)
No degree in architecture or urbanism required — passion and vision count!
FInishing time: August 1, 2025
Upload your final designs by August 1 (the full day until midnight Berlin time counts).
Please don’t publish your design before the winners are announced.
Prizes
🥇 1st Place: €1500 + Book + The Aesthetic City Academy
🥈 2nd Place: €1000 + Book
🥉 3rd Place: €500 + Book
🎓 Student & Young Professional Prize
🎖️ Special Awards by our partners (INTBAU, The Aesthetic City, Classic Planning Institute, and more)
How Winners Are Chosen
70% Jury score — based on beauty, recognisability, urban quality
30% Public vote — on a separate platform (anonymously at first)
Submit here
Click the “Sign up” button above to register for the competiton.
When you are ready to upload your design, send it to:
Submit your design via email or Google Form
(form preferred, one .zip file with your name is very helpful!)
Got questions? Contact us!
Team on instagram: Liam Prentice, Herman Stinia, Bart Urban
