An expansive airport, once utilised by the Nazis before being deserted, has undergone a remarkable transformation and is now unrecognisable.

Tempelhof Airport, originally constructed in the 1920s in Berlin, was redesigned a decade later to showcase the might of the Third Reich. The enormous, crescent-shaped terminal remains one of the world’s largest single-roof structures, an impressive 1.2km in length.

Following the Second World War, it became a beacon of hope. During the Berlin Blockade of 1948–49, when the Soviet Union attempted to force the Western Allies to relinquish control of the city, Tempelhof served as a vital supply line for the city during the Berlin Airlift.

By 2008, the last flight had departed and Tempelhof officially closed its doors on October 30. Two years later, the city transformed the 380-hectare airfield into something entirely unexpected – Berlin’s largest inner-city park, Tempelhofer Feld.

Today, locals flock to the park for picnics, kite flying, cycling or simply basking in the sun – and the space is immense: nearly 750 acres of open fields. The terminal building hasn’t been neglected either, reports the Mirror.

The historic structure now hosts large-scale events, trade fairs and concerts, injecting new life into the colossal structure. Its iconic curved roof and facade are also being meticulously preserved due to its protected status.

The park, once a runway, now serves as a sanctuary for protected natural zones, rare plant species and wildlife. It also hosts urban gardening projects, social experiments and cultural initiatives, keeping the spirit of the place alive.

This vast site, twice the size of Monaco, boasts 10 entrances across three separate neighbourhoods in southern Berlin. Lukas Staudinger, co-founder of POLIGONAL, which offers walking tours of Berlin, told the BBC: “The space is not just like a historical site; it’s become some sort of place of entertainment, excitement. “It’s a space for sub-cultural practices.

It’s a space for many different things, including for certain birds, which only nest there and nowhere else in the whole area. “

A six-kilometre loop follows the old runways, repurposed for cycling, skating, and jogging. This expansive stretch of concrete, originally designed for loaded bombers, has been transformed into a playground for city dwellers. Berliner Oumi Janta said: “When I have family or friends visiting, I definitely show them this place.

Where else in the world do you find an abandoned or closed airport where you can just walk – or in my case, skate – around and feel freedom?”.

Earlier this month, renowned Hollywood actress Glenn Close revealed on Instagram that she was shooting scenes for the forthcoming Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise of the Reaping, at a former airport. The franchise has utilised various locations across Berlin, including this site, to effectively portray the oppressive world of Panem.