coopdisco

Coopdisco is a cooperative of architects and planners based in Berlin that focuses on developing urban spaces for communal and cultural use. Originating in the broader context of Berlin’s tradition of self-managed cultural and art spaces, the organisation emerged as part of efforts to secure accessible spatial resources for public benefit rather than for private or commercial interests. Its members work at the intersection of urban planning, architecture, and social engagement. The cooperative’s activities center on researching, mapping, and developing so-called “commons”—spaces that are collectively managed and used, often under threat from urban financialisation and rising rents. Coopdisco’s projects often involve participatory processes, collaborating with students, local residents, and various civil society actors. One notable example is their multi-semester mapping initiative in Kassel, which resulted in planning tools and strategies for the protection and expansion of commons spaces, presented and discussed in a series of events known as “Planungsdisco”. Coopdisco’s scope ranges from conceptual planning to concrete interventions, including the development of soziokulturelle Zentren (socio-cultural centers), strategies for self-managed spaces, and consultancy on the governance and funding of cultural venues. They serve as both facilitators and documentarians of processes that support urban commons and self-managed projects, especially in Berlin’s rapidly changing urban landscape. Through public discussions and expert panels, they engage critically with contemporary urban and cultural policy, aiming to preserve and expand spaces for artistic, social, and collective use.