Here, behind the main building, lies a garden. This is the Garten der TU Berlin. For over a century, students have examined three relics of Berlin’s urban history here. Imagine this garden as an outdoor classroom. It is a place where students can learn about plants and urban gardening.
Around 1900, such a garden at a university was revolutionary. The Schaugärten der TU Berlin offer a hands-on learning experience.
First, there is the ruin of a former arched hall. Between 1860 and 1887, it served as the entrance to the Borsig factories on Chausseestraße. The arched hall was built to hide the workers from passersby. The factory owners did not want to upset them. After the factory’s demolition in 1887, a section of the arched hall was moved to the garden in 1901. It found its new home at the Technische Hochschule Berlin.
Another relic in this garden is a pair of Doric columns. These columns once stood at the tax houses near Charlottenburger Bridge. The tax houses were torn down in 1907. A third relic is an Ionic column. It was once part of the entrance to the Schinkel-Dom from 1821. The Hohenzollern family had the cathedral demolished in 1893. They thought it was too modest for their tastes.
Behind the arched hall, you can see railway tracks and parts of a signaling system. This historic test signal box serves as a railway training facility. It belongs to the Department of Railway Operations and Infrastructure at TU Berlin.
The Schaugärten der TU Berlin also hosts student projects. One project is called “UniGardening ~ Urbanes Gärtnern an Berliner Hochschulen.” Students learn about urban agriculture and test their knowledge on university grounds. The goal is to integrate urban agriculture into the TU Berlin curriculum.
Students analyze potential spaces for urban gardening. They consider facades and rooftops on the Charlottenburg campus. They develop various urban gardening concepts and techniques. This includes raised beds, mixed cultures, and cultivating regional plants. Students also learn about composting and even beekeeping.
The UniGardening network also organizes events. They aim to connect students, professors, and urban gardening activists. Together, they discuss sustainable uses of public space. They envision gardens on rooftops and facades at universities. These gardens improve the environment. They also serve as meeting places for people from different backgrounds.
The Schaugärten der TU Berlin are more than just a garden. They are a living classroom and a testament to Berlin’s history. They also are a hub for innovative urban gardening projects. This unique space combines history, education, and sustainability.