About Me

Livable Cities
Architecture
Urban Mobility
Environment
Good Design

My name is Nik Kaestner. For twelve years, I was the Sustainability Director for the SF Public Schools, working on carbon-free and water-resilient schools, zero waste, and a car-free school commute. I am also a dad, a closet urban planner, and a lover of cities.

Since August 2020, I have been living in Berlin (Germany) with my family. Even during the pandemic, the city has had a civic energy that I have yet to experience in my hometown. And Berlin has big plans for the next ten years — nothing less than the creation of a people-centered and climate resilient city of the future. It also makes great donuts.

San Francisco has taken some impressive strides in the same direction recently, launching the Shared Spaces and Slow Streets programs to return public space from private cars to people. By writing about Berlin’s plans, I hope to inspire SF politicians, planners, and citizens to start thinking about what comes next.