At last, it became a wasteland: the on-going story of Köpi Wasteland from noWHERE into nowHERE and back

Abstract

This paper tells the story of Köpi Wasteland, a space in Berlin’s inner-city ring that was once part of the Berlin Wall. We bring to light the in-place-time stories that we found (Smithson, 1990) through a continuous field research conducted using a dialogical (Morin [1999] 2008; Bakhtin [1930s] 2001) method. This story exposes the dark side of Urban Regeneration processes directed by the urban planning discipline. Within the ostensibly good intentions of urban development for what are considered degraded areas – wastelands – urban policies end up creating real wastelands. Why and how does this happen? This is what the story of Köpi brings to light. Köpi now conceals what was once a vibrant and spontaneous environment. The lived experience in this place demonstrated the potential of neglected urban areas (Clement, 1984 & 2003), particularly the “Brachen” of Berlin depicted in Matthew Gandy’s (2017) Natura Urbana documentary, when inhabitants fully appropriate them by making the most of whatever they find there, transforming a space into a place of belonging. The term “wasteland” has been called into question as a result of the ongoing fieldwork in this place from February to October 2013. This investigation revealed that the term “wasteland” not only failed to define the specific characteristics and potential of this urban space, but it could also have a negative impact on the renewal process by ignoring what was already happening there. Regrettably, this is exactly what happened. As an outcome, it is clear that extreme caution should be used when labeling urban settings. The power of words (Weil, 1962) cannot be underestimated; they shape how we perceive and comprehend places, and thus how we modify them for better or worse. Unfortunately, Kopi’s present has been defined by an inaccurate story, and as a result, it has become a true wasteland.