Keyvisual Wettbewerbsbeitrag "Tausend Verbindungen", Kunst am Bau-Wettbewerb "Erweiterungsbau des Olof-Palme-Zentrum", Visualisierung: Oliver Walker, 2026
Olof-Palme-Centre
The Olof Palme Center (OPZ) at Demminer Straße 28, 13355 Berlin, is a children’s and youth center as well as a community center operated by the independent organization Pfefferwerk Stadtkultur gGmbH. With its diverse range of programs for children, youth, families, and the neighborhood, the OPZ has played a pivotal role in the social fabric of the neighborhood for many years. To meet growing demand, the center is undergoing a major expansion. The goal is to create additional spaces for counseling, education, and community interaction, thereby significantly enhancing the existing services.
In accordance with Anweisung Bau (ABau) funds for art in architecture were also allocated for this expansion project. Chaired by artist Veronika Kellndorfer, the jury voted on Monday, March 9, 2026, to recommend the implementation of artist Oliver Walker’s design “Thousand Verbindungen.”
The Submission „Formen der Begegnung“ by the artist Kitra came in 2. place.
Art Competition
In connection with this construction project, the State of Berlin, represented by the Mitte District Office, announced a single-phase, restricted, and anonymous public art competition in accordance with the State of Berlin’s Guidelines for Public Art and Art in Urban Spaces (as of 2019) and the Guidelines for Planning Competitions (RPW 2013), insofar as applicable to public art.
The aim of this competition was to create a work of art specifically designed for this particular site and distinguished by its artistic originality. All forms of contemporary art were eligible. The jury met on March 9, 2026.
The following artists were invited to participate in the competition: Kitra, Anna Nezhnaya, Oliver Walker.
The Jury consisted of the following judges: the artists Philip Horst, Veronika Kellndorfer (Chair), Julieta Ortiz de Latierro, Thomas Kilpper (deputy judge); Christoph Keller, District Councillor for Youth, Family and Health, District Office of Berlin-Mitte, Daniel Harth, wiechers beck und partner Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, and Sulamith Sallmann, Public Relations and Coordination for the Olof-Palme-Zentrum.
Workshop Series
Under the direction of artist Bernd Trasberger, a series of workshops on public art was held at the Olof Palme Centre. The workshops included two guided tours of public art sites, as well as a site visit to the expansion project to explore potential locations for public art. Participants included both local residents and OPZ staff.
Once the competition process is complete, additional events are planned: an exhibition of the competition entries and a public discussion with the participating artists during the 2026 Month of Art in Architecture (MKB 2026), as well as a studio visit during the production process.