The founder of »himmelbeet« – a non-profit organization whose name translates to Heaven’s Bed – literally wants to reach new heights with her idea for neighbourhood gardening. Twenty-two metres above the ground surface, atop two unused parking structures in Berlin-Wedding, two new gardens, each with a surface areas of 6000 m2, are to be created for the residents. For the time being, the gardeners are still tending what had previously been ground-level wasteland in the same neighbourhood. The community project enjoys such great popularity that there are now long waiting lists for the coveted annual leases of the plots. And the list of activities offered here is long, as well: next to professional gardening, one has the choice between attending workshops on tango dancing or a cooking class – or simply basking in the sun and drinking coffee.
In keeping with the founder’s vision of the organization – one of her main aims is to conduct the operation in an environmentally sound manner – the building was erected of recycled EUR pallets. It holds the café and spaces in which classes are held. Because a large number of volunteers – the gardeners – participated in the construction of the simple cube, the emotional attachment to the project is strong. To increase the facade’s thermal mass, the pallets were filled with loam, and, for stabilization, connected to the load-bearing wood-stud construction. Not only are cooking workshops held in the 35 m2 interior: the counter is also used to prepare the food and beverages served by the café. Users can rent the space for private events. A row of the EUR pallets can be tilted up: this reveals the slate boards that announce the daily specials; the counter opens directly on to the large terrace. The terrace surface consists of two layers of EUR pallets, which tie it visually to the cube.
The urban garden’s freshly harvested herbs and vegetables make their way directly from the garden plot to the kitchen, where they are transformed into meals to be served and enjoyed by the gardens on the terrace. It’s hard to imagine a shorter path between delivery, processing and consuming.
In keeping with the founder’s vision of the organization – one of her main aims is to conduct the operation in an environmentally sound manner – the building was erected of recycled EUR pallets. It holds the café and spaces in which classes are held. Because a large number of volunteers – the gardeners – participated in the construction of the simple cube, the emotional attachment to the project is strong. To increase the facade’s thermal mass, the pallets were filled with loam, and, for stabilization, connected to the load-bearing wood-stud construction. Not only are cooking workshops held in the 35 m2 interior: the counter is also used to prepare the food and beverages served by the café. Users can rent the space for private events. A row of the EUR pallets can be tilted up: this reveals the slate boards that announce the daily specials; the counter opens directly on to the large terrace. The terrace surface consists of two layers of EUR pallets, which tie it visually to the cube.
The urban garden’s freshly harvested herbs and vegetables make their way directly from the garden plot to the kitchen, where they are transformed into meals to be served and enjoyed by the gardens on the terrace. It’s hard to imagine a shorter path between delivery, processing and consuming.