School on Schulstraße

On the 20 m² area set aside for public art at the rear of the school garden, Ein Stadtstück is taking shape: a section of public space from the school’s surroundings, recreated in every detail. The area will be paved and bordered with granite kerbs. Cast-iron bollards, signs, a street lamp with a litter bin and a park bench complete the ensemble. What is taken for granted in urban space becomes a source of disorientation within the school’s protected environment: a ‘foreign body’.

The work addresses central themes of contemporary art in public space: the interplay between the everyday and aesthetic composition, the shifting of fields of meaning, and the viewer’s active engagement with their surroundings.

 

The Artist
Ulf Neumann (b. 1978) lives and works in Cologne. He studied Fine Art/Graphic Design at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe. A key focus of his work lies on the themes of architecture, space and the body, and the social structures reflected within them.

As part of Berlin’s school-building initiative, a new school building is being constructed on a site of approximately 13,000 m² at Schulstraße 97 in 13347 Berlin (Wedding district). From the 2026/27 school year onwards, around 660 pupils will attend this school. Due to renovation work on the current Albert-Gutzman-Schule building, this school community will move there for the duration of the renovation.

In accordance with the Building Guidelines (ABau), funds for art in architecture were also allocated for this school building. Chaired by the artist Friederike Klotz, the jury voted on Thursday, 4 December 2025 to recommend the implementation of the challenging design “Untitled” by the artist Ulf Neumann. A sum of €257,000.00 is available for the realisation of the art in architecture.

The competition entry “Brunnen” by the artist Oliver van den Berg (in collaboration with Dr Sarah Scheibenberger) came second, whilst “abstract play/mosaic” by Robert Neu came third.