As good public art depends on good public spaces, Berlin is continuously transforming its spaces to become more inviting and open with collaborative and creative placemaking. As an article in Public Art Review puts it, the definition of placemaking is ‘to infuse identity into a three-dimensional space’. Berlin’s creative placemaking is enhanced by the free access and use of public space, inspiring people to collectively reimagine and reinvent the city. This improves the quality of life and strengthens the connection between people and places.
With affordable living and the ability to freely contribute to the city’s placemaking practices, people can take ownership of streets, creating truly ‘public’ spaces. This can be seen in visiting one of the many abandoned places in Berlin. As placemaking requires sensitivity to the existing environment, Berlin achieves this by successfully transforming its urban spaces whilst preserving its true identity at the same time.