Urban Regeneration: an award-winning redevelopment project in Berlin
Read Urban Regeneration: an award-winning redevelopment project in Berlin and check the IELTS Reading answers. Just over a kilometer south of Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, near the left bank of the Landwehr Canal, an extensive, triangular-shaped area of waste ground once separated the neighbourhoods of…
Passage preview
Just over a kilometer south of Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, near the left bank of the Landwehr Canal, an extensive, triangular-shaped area of waste ground once separated the neighbourhoods of Kreuzberg to the east and Schõneberg to the west. Known as Gleisdreieck, meaning 'triangle of rails', it was formed by the intersection of different railway lines built in the mid-nineteenth century that entered Berlin from the south. Tracks, sheds and warehouses belonging to three old railway stations – Dresdner Bahnhof (1875-1882), Potsdamer Bahnhof (1838-1944) and Anhalter Bahnhof (1839-1952) – are situated on a raised area some twenty hectares in size, at a height of four metres above the surrounding ground level.
Vocabulary from this passage
9 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- adjacent adjective
Next to or adjoining something else; neighboring
The park provides a recreational area for the residents of adjacent neighborhoods.
- amenity noun
A desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place
The new development includes local amenities such as a nursery and sports fields.
- converge verb
To tend to meet at a point, or to come together from different directions
Several major transport routes converge at the city center.
- decontamination noun
The removal of dangerous substances or contaminants from an area or object
The industrial site required extensive decontamination before it could be opened to the public.
- imperative adjective
Of vital importance; crucial or essential
It is imperative that urban planners consider environmental sustainability.
- infrastructure noun
The basic physical and organizational structures (e.g., buildings, roads) needed for the operation of a society
Aging railway infrastructure can be repurposed for modern public use.
- intervention noun
The action or process of intervening; action taken to improve a situation
Government intervention was required to save the historical site from demolition.
- reconcile verb
To make two or more apparently conflicting things consistent or compatible
Designers struggled to reconcile the need for housing with the preservation of green space.
- regeneration noun
The action or process of reviving or renewing an area, institution, or system
The urban regeneration project transformed the abandoned railyard into a vibrant park.
Answers with explanations
- 14. iv
Paragraph A describes the physical infrastructure remaining on the site, specifically the **tracks, sheds and warehouses** of three **old railway stations**. This matches the heading **The remains of a railway system**.
- 15. viii
Paragraph B explains that the area became **run down and abandoned** because the **railway infrastructure ceased to be used** and due to the **closeness of the wall**. These are the causes for its state, matching the heading **Reasons why the area had become neglected**.
- 16. i
Paragraph C outlines the **proposal** and the goals: to **integrate urban zones**, stimulate development, and create amenities. These are the aims of the project, matching the heading **Objectives of the regeneration project**.
- 17. vii
Paragraph D describes specific transit elements: a **concrete footpath** that bridges the level difference and **railway lines** traversed by a train. These describe how one moves through the park, matching **Ways of crossing the site**.
- 18. iii
Paragraph E lists the specific amenities available in the park: **terrace, benches, nursery, sports fields, skateboards**. These are the components of the park, matching **Features and facilities of the completed development**.
- 19. v
Paragraph F offers a judgment on the success of the park, calling it a **new green lung** and describing how it fits **neatly** and conserves the spirit of the place. This is a favorable review, matching **A positive evaluation of the finished project**.
- 20-21: BC
20: The text provides reasons why the site was chosen/identified for purpose. One reason is the **Museum**, which attracted **visitors** (tourists) and gave visibility. This supports Option **B** (particular tourist attraction).
21: A key reason for the site's development was the **unification** of the city, which gave the zone **centrality** (joining Potsdamer Platz with Kreuzberg). This supports Option **C** (lay at the heart of the reunited city).
- 22-23: AD
22: One of the goals (what the State hoped to achieve) was **integrating different generations**. This directly supports Option **A** (bring people of different ages together).
23: Another goal was to **reconcile** the development with the **conservation of railway heritage**. This supports Option **D** (preserve industrial remains).
- 24. meadow
The text states the project was planned around a **central meadow**. The blank requires a noun for what is 'In the middle' (central). 'Meadow' fits exactly.
- 25. museum
The text describes a train journey between its shed and the **German Museum of Technology**. The summary asks for the destination ('a [25]'). 'Museum' captures the core noun within the one-word limit.
- 26. edges
The text states that the **edges** of the park contain the functional spaces (sports/leisure areas). The summary asks where these areas are situated ('around the [26]'). 'Edges' is the correct answer.