urban matters

Kiezblocks – Changing Cities

Changing Cities is an advocacy organization of activists dedicated to the enhancement of urban living conditions. The organization endeavors to raise awareness about the challenges facing our cities, prompting individuals to instigate positive transformations. To achieve this goal, Changing Cities advocates for diverse forms of public engagement and actively participates in various initiatives on both local and national scales. They are a member of the climate alliance, a collective of organizations that all aim to combat climate change and its consequences in different ways. At the moment, the organization is involved in 24 projects in Berlin and an additional 17 projects all across Germany. One of their projects, which has been very successful so far is the Kiezblocks initiative.

In many German cities, traffic poses a significant concern, with through traffic detrimentally impacting the quality of public spaces, especially in residential areas. Changing Cities addresses this issue through its Kiezblocks program—a strategic urban development approach that designates specific areas as permanently car-free zones, prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist traffic. The specifics of each Kiezblock vary, as residents can freely propose and shape interventions that cater to their unique needs. The common thread among all of them, however, is the prohibition of through traffic by cars, while ensuring that residents maintain car access to their homes and also making sure that the urban space provides more quality for cyclists and pedestrians.

The operational model of Kiezblocks involves residents collaborating with Changing Cities to implement and manage the initiative in their respective areas. Residents can propose enhancements such as new traffic regulations, bike lanes, parklets, bollards, green spaces, and other amenities. Changing Cities will then help the people achieve these goals and assist the people with the legislative process that is necessary to legally implement the changes. This collaborative effort results in bespoke Kiezblocks, tailored to the specific requirements and preferences of the community. Changing Cities member Sebastian Kraus had this to say about the mission of their organization: “To solve the climate crisis, we need fast, small, simple measures: bollards, parklets, flower pots, and bollards […]”.

Changing Cities also actively defends public space where positive changes have already been implemented, as demonstrated by their activistic ventures, like the “No parking on the dancefloor” initiative in 2019. Faced with the potential displacement of parklets in Berlin’s Bergmannkiez, the association organized a street festival featuring various activities, such as concerts, a street cinema, and play areas for children. This event aimed to showcase the potential uses of public spaces when not dominated by car traffic. The successful outcome of this campaign led to the establishment and ongoing implementation of a Kiezblock in the Bergmannkiez area.

With their activism, Changing Cities addresses broader issues in German urban policy related to public space utilization. The organization advocates for cities designed for human well-being, prioritizing the needs of humans over cars. With the support of numerous residents and volunteers, Changing Cities includes 70 initiatives throughout Berlin, with the number of participants continuing to expand.