Dreaming of vast hunting grounds. That is how the Kleiner Tiergarten began its story. Imagine Berlin’s growth. It swallowed former hunting lands. The Elector of Brandenburg, Frederick William, sought a counterpart to the Großer Tiergarten. Thus, since 1655, this park has been known as Kleiner Tiergarten.
Located in Moabit, Kleiner Tiergarten spans seven hectares. Turmstraße bounds it to the north. Alt-Moabit lies to the south. Ottostraße defines its western edge. Wilsnacker Straße completes the perimeter to the east. Stromstraße and Thusnelda-Allee cut through the park. The U9 line passes beneath.
In 1790, the Kleiner Tiergarten underwent replanting. Further redesign occurred in 1835. This coincided with the construction of St. John’s Church by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The city took over administration in 1876. Landscape architect Johann Heinrich Gustav Meyer redesigned the park. He added benches, lanterns, and a spring.
From 1892 to 1894, the Heilandskirche was built. Friedrich Schulze designed it. It faces Thusnelda-Allee. The adjacent Ottopark was integrated later.
World War II inflicted heavy damage on the Kleiner Tiergarten. Landscape architect Wilhelm Alverdes redesigned it in 1960. He included the Ottopark and a children’s playground.
But there’s more to this park than just greenery. A dark event unfolded here in 2019. Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a former Chechen commander, was murdered. He was shot while walking through Kleiner Tiergarten. The assassin, Vadim Andreevich Krasikov, was apprehended. A Berlin court later ruled it a state-contracted killing by the Russian government.
From 2011 to 2016, the Kleiner Tiergarten underwent further transformation. Latz + Partner won a competition to redesign the park. The goal was to modernize the space. This ensured it met the community’s needs.
Today, the Kleiner Tiergarten offers something for everyone. There is an expanded play area for children. You can find table tennis, sandboxes, swings, and climbing structures.
However, not all changes were welcomed. Some critics felt the redesign detracted from the park’s original charm. Concerns arose about the removal of trees and vegetation. Despite the criticism, the Kleiner Tiergarten remains a vital green space. It provides recreation and respite in Berlin’s heart.
As you stroll through the Kleiner Tiergarten, consider its layers of history. From hunting grounds to a redesigned urban park. A place of both beauty and tragedy. Its story continues to unfold with each passing day.