curation and design of an interdisciplinary exhibition, 2025. RE: DO NOT BUILD is an interdisciplinary exhibition responding to the ongoing ideas competition initiated by the Berlin Senate for potential development on Tempelhofer Feld. This unique public space in Berlin is under threat from various construction proposals. The network Architects4THF—a coalition of architects, urban planners, cultural and environmental activists—advocates for the preservation of the field according to the original Tempelhofer Feld Law and calls for critical reflection on the Senate’s planning strategies. The exhibition explores alternative approaches to urban development that protect the character of the field. It presents concepts for repurposing the area in socially and ecologically responsible ways that benefit the public without resorting to commercial development. A special issue of Arts of the Working Class accompanies the exhibition. It focuses on the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the debate around Tempelhofer Feld and urban commons. The issue gathers international and local perspectives on land speculation, alternative planning methods, cultural austerity, and gentrification—emphasizing how such open spaces can serve as commons that protect Berlin’s social and cultural infrastructure from market pressures.
