Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any restrictions for the third task, (hotel) zoning? Must it be placed to the south of the athletic hall? Or can we place it in any part of the competition area (for example, in the ice-hockey area)?
You are free to position the different features and buildings wherever you like inside the perimeter given, with the exception of the blue-shaded areas and red-dotted lines indicated in document W_1_7_2.

Do we have to place the hotel in a specific location or can we decide where the facilities are located?
You may position the facilities wherever you like, as long as they are inside the perimeter (yellow line in document W_1_7_2) and do not encroach on the blue-shaded areas (marked in the same document).

Should we use only the actual backstage site of the Waldbühne (where the changing rooms and other staff areas are located)? Or can we use the second backstage site as well (the east site of Waldbühne in the valley)?
You are free to choose the best site inside the competition perimeter.

Backstage at the "Waldbühne": does parking for cars and buses have to be in backstage area of the "Waldbühne? Or does it just have to be part of Waldbühne arena? The reason for the question is because there is a huge height difference.
The parking area is clearly marked as being part of the backstage area to allow for deliveries. The height difference from the top to bottom of the arena has of course to be solved to allow disabled access, which is at the center of the competition. But don't forget that there is an existing access road to the backstage area which leads to "Ruhleben", so access even for delivery trucks is guaranteed.

I noticed that construction on the hockey stadium has already started. How does this affect our plans?
It doesn’t matter that construction on the stadium has already begun – you are free to design the space as you like.

Can we move the entrance of Waldbühne and redesign it?
Yes.

If we move the equestrian centre, can we use that site for the hotel?
Yes.

2_Building code and restrictions

Is there a height limit for the buildings on the competition site? What is the maximum number of floors for the hotel?
For the purpose of the competition, no limits apply to the size and height of the buildings, number of floors etc.

Paragraph 7.2.2 says the position of the roads should not be changed, specifically the "X" and "Y" coordinates. But can we change the (vertical) "Z" coordinate?
These streets are an important element of the original urban concept, which is why they should not be altered or moved. Please leave the Z-coordinate unchanged, too.

What are the regulations pertaining to evacuation stairwells in Germany? Is it absolutely necessary to have two stairwells from every floor of the multi-storey building?
For a hotel, a minimum of two stairwells is mandatory. The maximum distance from room to stairwell is 15m.

3_Road access / Parking

Does the serpentine road leading from northern part of Olympic park (from Prinz Friedrich Karl Weg) down to the north-east end of Murellenschlucht actually exist? If so, can it be used for deliveries to the backstage area of the Waldbühne (since it is outside the competition perimeter)? If this road does not exist, do we have to make provision for an access road inside the competition perimeter? Based on the topography, the road would be more suitable outside the perimeter.
The serpentine road is of no use for delivery access to the Waldbühne. But there is a road link (see § 3.2.1) from the existing backstage area to Ruhleben, which runs along the bottom of the valley (it connects with the serpentine road).

What does the replacement "Schirwindter" mean (page 25 of P_2_Task in the points P1, P2, P3; article 6.3.)?
It means these parking spaces are intended to replace the existing parking 3.2.4 (document W_1_3_2) on the Schirwindter Allee.

4_Surface allocation

Do we have to plan only the surface/cubature quantity or must we also include the architectural details? Where we can find this quantity?
You can find some information in P_2 Task §5.1 to §5.3. The quantity information is in: P_2 Task §6 surface (§6.1 - §6.5)

What is the meaning of the surface allocations on pages 25-27 of P_2 Task?
The surface allocations are all the functions that should be included in the finished project - either in existing facilities or in new ones. The level of detail is given in § 5.1 - 5.3. The hotel project should be shown in detail while the sports complex can be shown in outline.

n percentage terms, how many of the hotel rooms should be single rooms?
All rooms should be able to accommodate at least two guests. The reason is because they must meet the "Access for All" standards and people with disabilities often travel with a companion to assist them.

What are the requirements for the bathrooms in the guest rooms of the hotel? Should the bathrooms include only the specified sanitation equipment and devices as described in the Award Handbook, page 35, scenario 1? Or should they also have standard bathtubs for non-wheelchair users?
For most bathrooms, the standard sanitary equipment is sufficient, but the surface requirements must meet the "Access for All" standards. You are free to propose one or more special bathrooms with additional equipment.

In percentage terms, how much surface space is needed for construction and communication?
The surface you need for communication (corridors, elevators etc) and construction (walls, shafts etc) depends on your project design. There is no given maximum area.

Some 350m2 of space is designated for storage/maintenance. Is this space supposed to be one single, large room or does it represent all the storage space needed for the hotel?
It represents all the storage and work-room space for the hotel.

5_Layout and functions

Can you please clarify the relationship among three elements required in the project: the tennis clubroom, the equestrian clubroom, and the restaurant? My interpretation of the task is that the clubrooms must in some way be connected to the restaurant's kitchen. Is this correct? Also, it's not clear whether the restaurant needs to have a public dining area as well.
The first question is really up to you. Depending on your master plan, you may be able to combine some of the clubrooms, food kiosks, restaurants etc. into clusters that would reduce the need for kitchens and storage space, and would make the catering on site more efficient. The restaurant R1 - R6 is supposed to be open to the public in general, as the bar and restaurant of the hotel would be. You have a lot of freedom here to allow you to find a convincing concept.

Is it a requirement that there is only one sports centre with all functions inside (equestrian, tennis, hockey and restaurant)? Or can we separate these functions into different buildings?
The functions may be located in separate buildings.

What standard (star rating) is the hotel is expected to be?
The appropriate standard would be a 3-star hotel. The proposed room surface is above that standard to allow proper Access for All.

Do the sport facilities have separate parking areas, and is it possible to move the site parking underground?
The sports facilities have only a few parking spaces nearby, and we recommend that these be reserved for athletes and visitors with disabilities. As is mentioned in § 6.3 the site should have a total parking area of 11'205 m2. The site parking may be located underground, if you wish

Do the parking areas have to be above ground or underground? And do they have to be covered or not?
This is entirely up to you.

Is there any connection between the "Reitanlage Pichelsberg equestrian compound" and the "Reiterstadion" on the other side of the "Passenheimerstrasse"? Do equestrians from the Reitanlage Pichelsberg use the Reiterstadion, or are they totally separate?
As regards ownership, the two facilities are completely independent of each other, but the grounds on which they are located belong to the Berlin community. For major events, the facilities may be (and have been) used in combination, e.g. the Reiterstadion for the competition, the Pichelsberg club for training. But the existing facilities are less important nowadays because bigger and more modern facilities have been built on the outskirts of Berlin.

Should the three indoor tennis courts be permanent or demountable?
They should be permanent, but an inflated hall like the existing one might be OK.

- Technical rooms: for heating, electricity, ventilation etc.
- Guest room support: for linen, cleaning etc on guest floors
- Infrastructure / HVAC: heating, electricity, ventilation, sewage treatment etc.
- Pre-competition warm up: area where athletes can warm up before a sports competition (with the help of their trainers) or get their sport prosthesis adjusted etc.
- Public changing rooms: where visitors can put on their skates.

Why is there a pre-competition, warm-up room in wellness/therapy sector, since the pool is purely for recreational use and there are no facilities for sports events in the wellness sector?
The pre-competition, warm-up area is for athletes who are competing anywhere in the Olympic Grounds and perhaps even somewhere else. They can use it to warm up before a competition (with the help of their trainers) or have their sport prostheses adjusted etc.

6_Additional features

Is it possible to add additional features and buildings to my project to improve or complement the competition site?
Yes, you are free to include additional features/structures that you think will enhance the site in terms of accessibility, usability etc.

In chapter 5 concerning the project tasks, as well as in chapter 6 concerning surface allocation, the surfaces of facilities are very precisely described. But there is also a schematic map ("the three-tiered tasks") showing additional sporting activities (Olympic symbols) that are not described in the text. Can we include these activities in our project, even though they are not mentioned in the description? Is there a possibility to add some sport areas or structures not described in the text?
The answer to both your question is yes. Fig 7 of the task document is simply a schematic summary that tries to illustrate the three main elements of the task. And, as you correctly observe, there are more symbols on this “map” than there are functions in §6 Surface Allocation. You are free to include additional functions (not necessarily those in fig.7) that might improve your project. But you should not treat the symbols in fig.7 as a “to-do list” – it would be acceptable if you integrate only the functions in § 6 Surface Allocation.

7_Existing Buildings

Do we have to replace the existing buildings which are marked "may be moved and replaced"?
If you move them, you must replace them. But only with the surfaces indicated in P_2 Task §6 surface allocation.

How much of the station platform needs to be covered? Do we have to leave the station roof exactly as it is, or could we get rid of the roof on Pichelsberg station?
You should try to keep the platforms covered to approximately the same extent as today. If it was raining or snowing, would you prefer to wait on a covered or an uncovered platform? And what about if you were sitting in a wheelchair?

8_Horst Korber Centre

With regard to the Horst Korber Centre, we would like to know if it is possible to modify the existing space between the buildings (hotel and sport centres) and also if we are allowed to remove the small secondary buildings from that same space.
The space between the hotel and the sports centre should be left as it is because we do not have the plans for the Horst Korber Centre (HKC), and therefore cannot change this part of the site. (The multi-purpose Horst Korber sports hall, the sports centre and the hotel have a common basement under the courtyard.) However, the space around the buildings that is not marked in blue on document W_1_7_2 may be changed. Please note: the Rudolf Harbig Hall east of the HKC has no underground link to the HKC.

Where are the main, secondary and service entrances for the three buildings composing the Horst Korber Centre?
The 7-storey hotel and the 2-storey administrative / restaurant building share the same entrance on the upper level of the courtyard, facing south. The entrance for spectators of the multi-purpose sports hall is on the lower level of the courtyard, towards the north-west corner of the building, facing north. The service entrances to the administration / restaurant building are on the north side of this building.

There is a path on the map linking the Glockenturmstraße to the Horst Korber Hotel at north (corresponding to the main entrance at south). Is there a service or a main entrance to the hotel here?
There is a service entrance / emergency access for firefighters.

9_GASAG

Are there any security restrictions because of the underground canals and pipes of the GASAG complex? Are maps or materials available?
We do not have more information about the GASAG installations because they are kept secret for security reasons. For the purposes of the competition, only the blue-shaded area is a “no construction” zone.

As there is a gas works ("GASAG") near the project site, what is the maximum depth for excavations in order not to disturb the gas pipes under the ground?
There are no restrictions as long as the project stays outside of the blue polygon “f” shown in fig. 9 and fig 10 of document P_2 Task. No construction is permitted inside the blue polygon; we have no information about the buildings or the possible infrastructure underground!

Is there a centralized heat source on the competition site? Or does every individual building have its own local heat source? Do they use gas from GASAG?
The buildings are not linked to a centralized heat source. GASAG provides gas for most of Germany.

10_Surrounding

Which is the main entrance of the Olympia Stadium? We would like to have an estimate of the number of people that are likely to pass through our competition site to attend an event at the Olympia Stadium.
The main entrance to the Olympic Stadium is on the east side (where the ticket booths are located) so hardly any spectators will pass through the competition site on their way to the stadium. They may park their cars within the competition perimeter but they will then move along the Jesse Owens Alley.

There is a large area between the Glockenturm and the Olympia Stadium. What kind of events are held there and how many people do they attract?
The space you are referring to is the Maifeld. Originally it was used by the Nazis for political and military rallies. Today it is used for events such as the football World Cup in 2006, when it was home to the fan village.

Is the Olympic ground also supposed to host the Paralympics? Looking at the task and the purpose of the competition it seems that the answer is yes. However considering the program, the surfaces allotted to spectators is really small, even for the Hockey Stadium (1000 seats). Is the sports complex that must be designed for the Paralympics or is it just for training?The facilities are just for training. Adapting the entire Olympic compound for the Paralympics would be a too big project for this competition!

What are the functions of the buildings on the southern side of the S-Bahn tracks, in the Pichelsberg area? We were able to identify a church and two other buildings: one for childcare and one for care of the elderly. What is between these two buildings, in the II and IV level units? Also, on the other side of the Glockenturmstraße, facing the childcare building, there is a tag on Google Earth saying "Sport-Club Charlottenburg". Which one is it?
This is a residential area, served by the buildings you refer to. We don’t have any information about the sports club, but it is certainly not a club that attracts lots of visitors from outside the area otherwise we would have noticed it on one of our many visits.

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