Sprengelpark

Tucked away in Berlin’s Wedding district, Sprengelpark offers a tranquil escape. This one-hectare green oasis, nestled between Sprengelstraße and Kiautschoustraße, holds a secret history far removed from its peaceful present. Sprengelpark occupies the former site of the Rohrbach Metallflugzeugbau, a clandestine aircraft factory. Imagine this: in the 1920s, airplane parts were secretly transported through these very streets, destined for assembly in Kiel. The factory’s unusual location, far from any airport, was a deliberate attempt to conceal Germany’s forbidden aircraft production under the Treaty of Versailles. Rohrbach, the company’s founder, even sought funding from the Reichswehrministerium, hinting at military ambitions. Sprengelpark’s story, however, begins much earlier. In 1867, the area was home to the Norddeutsche Fabrik für Eisenbahn-Betriebs-Material AG, later replaced by the Norddeutsche Lagerhaus AG. This company parceled the land, leading to the construction of apartment buildings, and the naming of Sprengelstraße, Kiautschoustraße, and Samoastraße around 1905. The Rohrbach factory, designed by Werner March, arrived in 1924. By 1931, 31 aircraft had been produced here. Sprengelpark’s industrial past continued even after Rohrbach. The factory changed hands several times, eventually serving the war effort during World War II. After the war, the Fertigungsgerätebau GmbH occupied the site, its production remaining a mystery. Various small businesses followed, until the land became the property of the city of Berlin in 1967. The transformation into Sprengelpark began in the 1980s with urban development studies. Finally, in 2004, most of the old factory buildings were demolished. The park’s design, finalized between 2004 and 2007, involved the local community. They contributed to the layout, featuring a mix of play and relaxation areas connected by a Y-shaped path. They even chose the name “Sprengelpark”. Funded by Deutsche Bahn as compensation for construction on Mettmannplatz, Sprengelpark officially opened on September 1, 2007. A commemorative airplane-shaped stele stands at the entrance on Sprengelstraße. It tells the story of this place, from its hidden aviation past to its present-day tranquility. Sprengelpark’s journey from a clandestine aircraft factory to a community park reflects Berlin’s own story of change and renewal.