Perhaps you’ve wondered why this little bay is called Maselakebucht. It is a part of the Havel in Berlin. The Maselakebucht sits near the island Kleiner Wall. Look around you. The Maselake-Klappbrücke spans the Maselakebucht.
Maselake was once the name of a field. Today, this area is part of Berlin-Spandau in Hakenfelde. The large field saw factories built near the end of the 19th century. By 1901, only the southern part of Maselake remained on maps. Soon, the entire area became an industrial zone. Today, the name Maselake is still used.
The Nordhafen Spandau canal meets the Havel here. But don’t confuse it with the Maselakekanal. The Nordhafen Spandau has a unique history. It was once a vital inland port. Now, there are no harbor facilities there anymore.
Around 2007, the Maselakepark was created. It sits between Maselakebucht and Nordhafen Spandau. The street next to it is now called Am Maselakepark.
The Maselakekanal is located almost a kilometer north. It was built around 1903. A bridge crosses this canal. It is called either Boca-Raton-Steg or Maselakekanalsteg.
Between the Maselakebucht and the Maselakekanal lies the Maselake-Halbinsel. This area was an industrial zone in the 20th century. Later, it was redeveloped with housing. It is now known as Quartier Maselake Nord and Süd. Two Havel bridges are in this area. They are the Wasserstadtbrücke and the Spandauer-See-Brücke. The southern tip of the peninsula is called Havelspitze.
In 1938, there were small gardens west of the Maselakebucht. By 1940, the Siemens aircraft factory was built here. This large building is now a protected historical site in Berlin-Hakenfelde.
The Maselakepark covers 4.3 hectares. It was completed in early summer 2007. The park lies between Nordhafen and Maselakebucht. A promenade acts as a waterfront. It recalls the Spandau fortress moat and the industrial use of Nordhafen.
A white truss bridge crosses the Maselake itself. Part of the bridge can fold up. This allows sports boats on the Maselake to access the Havel. Sometimes, the bridge is simply broken. When it is stuck in the up position, it blocks the path.
Near the sandy shore, there is a terraced playground. Large swings attract visitors of all ages. Flat stone blocks form a broken pier into the Maselake. For a moment, each person has their own small island.
A few steps away is the Havelbalkon. From here, you have a view of the Havel towards Havelspitze. The structure juts into the Maselake like a ship’s bow.
The Nordhafen Spandau is a branch canal of the Havel. It is a former inland port. The canal is about 500 meters long. It stretches from the Havel’s west bank to the Hohenzollernpark on Streitstraße. A historic boathouse from 1911 sits on the southern bank.
The Maselakepark’s design incorporates historical elements. A wide promenade recalls the Spandau fortress moat. It also acknowledges the former industrial use of the Nordhafen. The promenade has a single-step edge. This design allows the lower part to serve as a boat dock.
The Maselakepark received recognition in the German Landscape Architecture Prize in 2009. The jury praised the intelligent combination of contemporary design. They also noted the high user acceptance. The design is an interpretation of historical references. As you explore Maselakebucht and its surroundings, remember its layered history. It is a story of fields, industry, and modern urban development.