Bringing Communities Together
A global leader in developing active, engaging urban spaces that enhance city life, Brookfield Properties specialise in creating mixed-use destinations that blend stunning architecture with unique retail, dining and entertainment offerings, encouraging new visitors and tenants to return time and again. Here, RLI meets up with Karl L. Wambach, President of Brookfield Properties in Europe to discuss one of the company’s recent key project completions, the Potsdamer Platz scheme in Berlin, Germany.
With an approach that goes beyond that of a typical commercial landlord – Brookfield Properties prioritise holistic, long-term stewardship of properties. This is exemplified perfectly by their transformation of Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, where they have created a unique destination after taking over management of the estate in 2016.
When plans for rebuilding Potsdamer Platz were drawn up in the 1990s, it was seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to re-establishing one of the world’s great cities. This redevelopment meant that when Brookfield Properties came on-board in 2016 there was already a fantastic structure in place, both in its world-class design and architecture and its mix of programming with elevated residences, headquarters of global businesses and flagship hotels.
“Our investment in the area allowed us to build on this legacy and take it further,” explains Karl L. Wambach, President of Brookfield Properties in Europe. “Unlike any other place in Germany, we wanted to create a destination that acts as a magnet for world-class retail, F&B and leisure providers, cementing the sites status as a culturally relevant place for both Berliners and international visitors.”
Following a varied history, Brookfield’s transformation of the Potsdamer Platz site has focused on further future-proofing the development. They have also reconfigured the public realm, enhanced the building’s sustainability performance and reimagined The Playce’s retail and leisure offer.
Their estate encompasses 17 buildings across 270,000sq m of office, retail and residential spaces and they have invested over €200M in renovations across the development. The idea throughout the redevelopment work has been on transforming the area into a pedestrian-friendly urban centre, emphasising sustainability, accessibility and enhanced public spaces with green areas and curated arts and culture activations.
They have also completed the renovation of Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, now rebranded as The Playce, from a traditional mall into a modern urban space with a curated offering.
“We have taken a strategic approach to ensure that Potsdamer Platz has all the ingredients needed for a true live-work-play environment. It has over 300 homes accommodating 700 residents and it is the base for over 150 national and international companies spanning tech, finance, hospitality and creative industries,” highlights Wambach.
At The Playce in Potsdamer Platz, the company has curated an exciting blend of retail, dining and entertainment options designed to engage with youth culture and the social media generation.
“Our key differentiator is our unwavering focus on placemaking and creating spaces that people genuinely enjoy – we are particularly attuned to youth culture and the desire for ‘third spaces’.”
Every retailer on site was carefully chosen to foster a community spirit and create moments of joy. Recently welcomed to the project was EL&N, renowned as the ‘Most Instagrammable Café’, with its signature pink aesthetic and chic interiors that elevate everyday moments into shareable experiences.
Other tenants include The Streets, a creative clothing outlet that caters to the fashion-forward youth, the Upside Down Museum, where visitors can immerse themselves in wacky, gravity-defying installations perfect for fun memories and quirky content for social feeds. As for evening entertainment, there is Lane7 with its first site outside of the UK offering a fusion of boutique bowling and vintage arcade machines. They are situated alongside The Alchemist, an award-winning cocktail bar known for its theatrical style of making and delivering drinks. Visitors can also enjoy a unique shopping experience at the largest European NBA store and the Peek & Cloppenburg Conscious Fashion Store, one of the largest sustainable department stores globally.
“Our key differentiator is our unwavering focus on placemaking and creating spaces that people genuinely enjoy – we are particularly attuned to youth culture and the desire for ‘third spaces’. Tenants such as Burgermeister, Caffè e Gelato, NBA, The Alchemist and Lane7 exemplify our commitment to meeting the growing German interest in experiential food services and retail,” Wambach identifies.
The site also hosts major cultural events such as the Berlinale, recognised as one of the ‘big three’ film festivals in Europe alongside Cannes and Venice. They also have dedicated space for public art installations and exhibitions.
“The Playce has been thoughtfully designed not merely as another shopping destination but rather as an inclusive town centre. We have pedestrianised the main street, improving accessibility and walkability in an area once dominated by traffic. Our team on the ground continuously adapt offerings based on feedback from the community and we have curated a healthy mix of global and local brands and great culinary options that cater to all tastes and preferences. We have also established a year-round program of activities such as a running club, a Noon Years Day balloon drop and a wellness hub, all designed to engage the community,” Wambach comments.
An imperative consideration in all of Brookfield’s projects is sustainability and in this regard Potsdamer Platz had a foot up on the competition, having been designed to the best standards at the time of conception, it continues to far outperform modern requirements.
These designs included integrated solar shading systems and natural ventilation to reduce energy consumption and onsite water management to handle rainwater efficiently. They have also implemented energy-saving programs, switched to low-emission LED lighting and upgraded the building management system for improved energy control.
As our time with Karl beings to run short, we ask him about Brookfield’s wider development portfolio and what else is in the pipeline.
“We are actively exploring growth opportunities where we can leverage our expertise in creating vibrant, community-focused spaces that blend residential, retail and leisure offerings. With any place we invest in, it is important for us to build communities that link back to the ecosystem of occupiers, whether it be food vendors that complement the experiential activities or retail that offers more than just a place for commerce.”
