The urban expansion of Berlin, 1862–1900: Hobrecht’s Plan

Abstract

This paper investigates the original intentions and modifications of Berlin’s 19th-century urban development plan, particularly the different spatial configurations at the local level. The creation, adaptation and long-term impacts of the Hobrecht Plan of Berlin are assessed for urban design and planning principles used for urban expansion between 1862 and 1900. The 1862 ‘Development Plan for the Environs of Berlin’ represents a cornerstone on which the inner city is built even to this day. Morphological analyses are used to describe design parameters and the associated design principles. The origins of ideas, spatial development and planning statements are examined in relation to each other based on written and drawn archival materials together with geographical information system-based plan analysis. Individual district plans and explanatory reports provide a basis for alternative interpretations of Hobrecht’s Berlin in 19th-century urban expansion planning. The example of Berlin illustrates the emergence and transition of 19th-century urban structures, as well as the design principles underpinning morphological aspects of street networks, public space systems and block patterns. This analysis serves as a reference in the history of European planning paradigms and urban planning models in general. It highlights the contribution of small-scale urban development with a focus on squares and local patterns. <em><strong>Practice relevance</strong></em> This study of the planning principles for public spaces and the specific urban design characteristics provides insights into the origins of the planning discipline, the structure of master plans, and processes of formation and transformation in urban neighbourhoods. A combination of city-wide and small-scale district approaches were used to plan Berlin’s expansion. This historical analysis shows that planning and schematic designs without state regulation compromised urban planning ideas and necessary planning parameters. The dependence on free market mechanisms lacked minimum standards and regulatory restrictions on building density. Small-scale urban designs were created to accommodate urban growth. Lessons on the balance and trade-offs between free market and regulated approaches to urban design are applicable to the expansion of cities today. Street patterns, block size, public green spaces (squares, boulevards, parks), building height and density require careful control and distribution. Failure to do so often results in poor urban conditions.