Frequently Asked Questions – SMART SPACE Hardenbergplatz

A Smart City is a holistic urban development concept aimed at making cities more efficient, technologically advanced, sustainable, and socially inclusive. It brings together technical, economic, and social innovations to improve urban quality of life in the long term.

With its new Smart City strategy “Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin,” the city aims to become more future-ready through the use of innovative technologies. The strategy focuses on the needs of residents as well as the interests of business, science, and civil society.

For Berlin, the concept of a Smart City goes beyond digitalisation: it’s about addressing future challenges creatively, openly, and participatively - using digital tools to support a sustainable and common-good-oriented urban development.

The strategy includes five pilot projects that prototype administrative and technical innovations under real-world conditions. Additional measures contribute to the strategy’s broader goals. Digital technologies are viewed as enablers of transformation—not as an end in themselves. The strategy is cross-cutting and collaborative, with people at its centre.

More information on the strategy “Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin” is available here.

SMART SPACE Hardenbergplatz is one of several pilot projects within the “Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin” framework. It contributes by testing innovative solutions under real-life conditions and developing transferable approaches for other public spaces and districts in Berlin.

SMART SPACE Hardenbergplatz is part of the federal Smart City Model Projects (MPSC), funded by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB). These projects support municipalities in their digital transformation by promoting Smart City strategies that prioritise public value.
The aim is to improve quality of life, sustainability, and civic participation. Solutions are designed to be transferable to other cities and regions.

/The project is funded by the BMWSB and the Berlin Senate Chancellery. No funding is drawn from the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district’s own budget.
After the project concludes, a newly established operating entity is expected to continue and sustain its outcomes on a self-financing basis.

The project aims to transform the area in front of Zoologischer Garten station into a multifunctional city square with quality of use by 2026—in close collaboration with Berlin’s urban community.

Hardenbergplatz is a typical train station forecourt with a highly frequented space and multiple overlapping uses. Similar spaces exist across Berlin and Germany, making it an ideal testing ground for transferable results.
Its complexity also presents unique challenges. If innovative solutions can succeed here, they can be applied elsewhere.

The lead authority is the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf District Office. Project partners include the Berlin Senate Chancellery, the Senate Departments for Mobility, Urban Development, and Economic Affairs, as well as the project coordinator INSEL-PROJEKT.BERLIN GmbH.
Other involved organisations include Deutsche Bahn (Smart City | DB), Berlin’s public transport provider BVG (Jelbi), and various research and business partners.
A full list of project partners is available here.

The project runs from March 2022 to June 2026.

The project consists of three core subprojects:

• Governance & Operating model: Designing an organisational structure and workflows for a new municipally owned operator that will manage public spaces in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf.
• Booking and Negotiation Platform (VHP): Developing a digital platform through which areas in front of the station can be flexibly booked and managed.
• Physical interventions: Implementing physical elements such as urban furniture, wayfinding systems, greening, and temporary pop-up infrastructure.

More information about each component is available here.

In addition to its core components, the project is testing Extended Reality tools for planning and participation. A digital twin of Hardenbergplatz allows spatial concepts and usage scenarios to be visualised in 3D. In the future, residents and planners will be able to access contextual information on public space via mobile devices.

A Smart Space improves the usability and flexibility of public space. It allows citizens to organise neighbourhood gatherings, cultural events or creative projects more easily. The aim is to increase accessibility and diversify opportunities for all population groups.

Hardenbergplatz is a highly frequented space used by diverse groups—from commuters and tourists to more vulnerable or underrepresented communities.

The complexity of relevant stakeholder constellations also requires intensive coordination.

To address these challenges, the project follows an iterative approach—allowing it to adapt to new insights and changing conditions. Special attention is given to inclusive and needs-based design.

Yes, the project includes a strong participation component aimed at broad inclusion. Engagement formats to date have included:

• Hybrid participation: Combining on-site and online surveys.
• Outreach to underrepresented groups: Targeted engagement with groups often excluded from traditional processes (e.g. young people, unhoused individuals).
• Expert involvement: Input from professionals and stakeholders early in the process.
• Workshops and online platforms: Residents contributed ideas on Berlin’s public participation platform “mein.berlin.de” and in in-person workshops.

Current participation opportunities are listed on the project website. For specific questions, contact: smart-space-hardenbergplatz@charlottenburg-wilmersdorf.de

All updates on upcoming events, workshops, and participation opportunities are published on this project website and on the social media channels of INSEL-PROJEKT.BERLIN GmbH.

You’ll find the latest announcements on LinkedIn and Instagram.

For direct enquiries, email: smart-space-hardenbergplatz@charlottenburg-wilmersdorf.de

Yes, Hardenbergplatz will remain open to the public throughout the project period. Temporary closures of specific areas may occur, but general access will be maintained.

Data privacy and security are a top priority. All digital components—including the booking platform and Extended Reality tools—are developed in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Personal data is only collected and processed when necessary and in line with legal requirements.

Hardenbergplatz will undergo phased development into a smarter and more structured public space. The goal is to address current challenges such as inefficient wayfinding and overlapping uses.

By 2025, first transformations will be piloted, including physical interventions, an event concept, and temporary uses.

In parallel, the City of Berlin is initiating a formal planning process (Bebauungsplan) for a long-term redesign. The Deutsche Bahn is also renovating the train station Zoologischer Garten, with completion expected in 2029.

After the project concludes in summer 2026, the Booking and Negotiation Platform will remain in use through a newly established operating company.

The platform will be made publicly available under an open-source and open-code licence. Urban furniture, technical equipment, and other physical assets will continue to be used in line with the project’s common-good goals.

The project is evaluated on several levels. Scientific evaluation is conducted by the Technical University of Berlin (ZTG), which monitors and reflects on project progress. Additional research institutions are analysing specific components. Quality assurance and reporting are coordinated by the national MPSC coordination unit in collaboration with the GD:B team at the Berlin Senate Chancellery.

For additional information or interview requests, please email: smart-space-hardenbergplatz@charlottenburg-wilmersdorf.de

Your request will be forwarded to the relevant project partners.