Leopoldplatz is known as a hotspot for homeless people, creating concerns for the neighbors. Statistics show that 11,000 people are homeless in Berlin, but there are only 1,000 beds provided for them. Over a 13-year period, there has been a growth of almost 15% in the homeless population. Being homeless means being trapped in a vicious circle, which contains elements that everybody can relate to. The difference is that these elements happen all at once with no outcome.

Breaking the cycle requires different requirements to obtain relief on some other elements. The surroundings consist of several places that could help break the vicious circle. There is even an accessible open plot in the urban fabric that could serve as a secure and safe starting point by applying the housing first principle. 

After visiting the square, I stumbled upon the Alte Nazarethkirche, a church building that is divided into two floors over the years. It is positioned at the entrance of the square, right when you come out of the U-bahn. In the design proposal, the second floor is demolished, bringing the church back to its former state. By adding a new volume, it is possible to fill it with several functions, such as healthcare services, support meetings, therapy sessions, refugee support, barbershop, laundry room, showers, living room, kitchen, church space, and performance space.

The square is designed according to the seasons because when you are homeless, seasons are vital in your way of living. Winter provides warmth, autumn provides shelter, summer provides cooling, and spring provides recharging. Every place on the square is equipped with double functions to avoid catering to only one specific group of people, which could lead to monofunctional use and exclude certain visitors or create an unsafe feeling.

For the surrounding area, the waste company can provide jobs for cleaning up the square, and the supermarket can donate to the food bank for the homeless shelter. The concept aims to translate into finding a home of one’s own because, in the end, every person has the right to a dignified existence.