Europacity.
North of the central station was a vast, nearly empty gap in the city left by old industry and, later, the wall. The 1-kilometre-long area is filled with a new city, generating a debate on qualitative urbanism. Many deem EuropaCity a huge failure. The idea was to unite east and west, but now a major traffic route is a sharp barrier dividing the area once again.
Hauptbahnhof, its tunnels and adjacent buildings.
The Berlin central station was designed by GMP and completed in 2006 after complex tunnels had been built through the soft soils typical for the city. Previously, Berlin had only termini stations, but now, travel is facilitated by this crossing station, which is Europe’s largest of its kind.
Around the station are several relatively new buildings, such as the Futurium and The Cube by 3XN.
City West
West Berlin’s former centre, and the city’s economic engine, is being densified. First, the “Bikini Berlin”, a 1950s building, was tastefully refurbished, and later, two high-rises were erected. In the near future, more high-rises will be close to the Zoo station.
BER Airport
Unlike most German projects, the BER airport did not proceed as planned. The reasons are numerous and quite interesting to explore. Nevertheless, the new train connections and highways were significant urban projects. The architecture of the main hall, by GMP, can be seen as a homage to classical architecture.
The S21 and other train lines
The S21 is Berlin’s new north–south S-Bahn line, designed to link the northern ring with Hauptbahnhof and, in later phases, Potsdamer Platz and Südkreuz.
Its first section is expected to open around 2026, improving access to Berlin’s main station and relieving pressure on existing routes.
The Dresdner Bahn project, which runs via Südkreuz toward the south, will provide a fast 20-minute connection between Hauptbahnhof and BER Airport starting in late 2025.
This upgraded line also strengthens the corridor to Dresden, reducing travel time to roughly 75 minutes.
Further south, it will integrate into the planned Dresden–Prague high-speed link, creating a continuous international route through Berlin, BER, Dresden, and Prague.
Together, S21 and the Dresdner Bahn mark a major step toward a more connected and resilient metropolitan rail system for Berlin.
Park am Gleisdreieck
The former railtrack and industrial area is arguably one of Europe’s best new parks. Situated on a former railroad network, it organically integrates into the city, dominated by biotopes and people.
U5 Metro
A new connection was built from Alexanderplatz to Hauptbahnhof, under the famous Unter den Linden, making it a complex project due to the soft soil and archaeological findings. The project was costly and unique because it added a modern metro line in the heart of one of Europe's largest cities.