Zwischenlicht Allee
“street of in-between light”
Context & Inspiration
For the Urban Design: Representations in Space course at SRH Berlin University, with a lecture by Cinzia D’Emidio, in my master’s program, the assignment was to choose a location near the campus and design a solution that rethinks people’s relationship with the urban environment. The project had to include research, ideation, prototyping, and communication.
The chosen site was a pedestrian path less than one kilometer from the campus. Located next to the Neukölln power station, the path is lined with trees and benefits from natural light and pedestrian flow during the day. However, at night it becomes dark and unwelcoming, creating a strong sense of insecurity for those who pass through. The surroundings are equally uninviting, defined by industrial buildings, chimneys releasing constant smoke, and tall fences.
Concept
Our idea was to give the path a new functionality.
Beyond serving as a passageway, it could also become an open-air exhibition space where artists would install their works.
Every six months, a new artwork would be presented. The project was designed to be sponsored by the energy company, transforming its dull surroundings into a cultural landmark while activating the area both during the day and at night.
Outcome
For the first installation, we envisioned a tunnel made of translucent colored acrylic panels—glowing with natural light during the day and illuminated at night.
To present the concept, we built a prototype and placed it on-site, allowing pedestrians to interact with and experience the idea firsthand.
In addition, we created the project’s visual identity: titled “Zwischenlicht Allee” (which translates as “street of in-between light”), it invited artists and designers to rethink and improve the quality of urban space.
