Wednesday, April 16
Kottbusser Tor as ‘innovation station’ or techno vs the homeless?
“Relaxing music with a local (i.e. Kreuzberg) connection”, a “modular security centre”, and a “silent passenger channel” through which commuters can discreetly report on one another via WhatsApp: these are some of the measures announced this week by the BVG in a new press release outlining plans to transform Kottbusser Tor in the second half of the year into what they are calling an attempt to drive away troublesome homeless people “Innovation station”.
The idea of using music to deter rough sleepers is not new, even in Berlin. A few years ago, Deutsche Bahn proposed playing atonal music at Hermannstrasse station in Neukölln — a plan that was dropped after public protests. However, the notion of giving local artists the opportunity to help clear out the poor and vulnerable does seem to be a novel twist. In one scenario envisioned by the BVG, “jazz artists on the U1/3 platform” and “DJs from the electronic and techno scene” on the U8 would perform live sets. Art exhibitions along the U8 line are also under consideration, as well as light installations.
Tellingly, these cultural measures are to be introduced alongside more conventional security enhancements. Additional mirrors will be installed in an effort to curb drug use, while so-called “intelligent camera detection” — already in place and programmed to automatically trigger an alarm when it detects people, large animals, or objects on the tracks — may in future be expanded to spot rubbish or other undesirable items.
While many headlines since the announcement have faithfully echoed the narrative of “bringing vibrant Berlin into the stations”, some criticism is beginning to emerge. Social workers have raised concerns that displacing visible signs of poverty and dispossession may do little to address their underlying causes.
