There are few places in the world that have an airport so close to the city center as Berlin does. But it's not just Tempelhof airport's prime location that has placed it at the heart of an intense debate in the German capital.

The cavernous, loss-making airport, best known as the site of the famous Berlin airlift that guaranteed the city's survival in the face of a Soviet blockade in 1948 and 1949, is to be closed by 2008 according to a recent court ruling. The prospect of all that vast space lying idle in the heart of Berlin has fueled new interest in the site and a number of investors and experts have lined up with ideas for the airport's future use.

"In the time that this has been going on with the airport, I've heard so many different plans, it just makes me sick," said Thomas Merz, who used to work in the airport's control tower before retiring. He now gives airport tours to visitors.

"They suggested a Disney theme park which is crazy because the one in Paris is already struggling. Then they spoke of a recreational park which was followed by plans for a residential area," said Merz. "I've known this airport for over ten years, and now through the guided tours I've learned about the history of this airport - the oldest in the world, how can you close such a historic airport?"

Airport's central role

The site has been used for aviation for more than a hundred years and it was the location of the world's first commercial airport when Templehof officially opened its doors and runways in 1923. Three years later, German national carrier Lufthansa began flying from there.

In the 1930s, Tempelhof was Europe's main air hub. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler used the airport for propaganda purposes. For his planned capital Germania, he commissioned the construction of the biggest building in Europe. The result was the Tempelhof terminal.

The Berlin airlift made the airport famous around the world. When the Soviet blockade of Berlin started in 1948, Allied pilots flying supplies to West Berliners landed at Templehof.

Running on nostalgia

Today, the airport loses millions of euros annually. Even so, Berliners such as former Mayor Eberhard Diepgen have fought to keep it open. History isn't the only thing that makes the airport worth keeping, Diepgen says.

"Berlin must do everything to attract international business." he said. "Everything that is good for potential investors and which makes life easy must be provided, especially an airport in the middle of the city, which you can't find in many cities anymore."

Others have come to terms with its closure and have come up with some unconventional -- some would say wacky -- ideas to reinvent the place.

Berlin Economics Professor Michael Burda has suggested merging the city's Free University and Humboldt University and making Tempelhof its home. The idea, according to Burda, would not just make for one of the most intriguing campuses in the world, but would also help the cash-strapped German capital save money.

The latest vision for Tempelhof is to convert it into a giant luxury health center, complete with its own airfield. The plan has captured the imagination of international investors such as American businessman Fred Langhammer, the former chairman of cosmetics firm Estée Lauder. Even Germany's national rail, Deutsche Bahn, has shown interest in the proposal.

But the Berlin government has rejected the spa concept, fearing that keeping Tempelhof open could jeopardize plans to expand another airport on the outskirts of Berlin. The city has made plans of its own, said government spokeswoman Manuela Damianakis.

Natural takeover

"The solution we envision is to let nature reclaim this site and to have a huge free space here which the people of Berlin can use for their own purposes," she said. "On its fringes, we will allow some urban development, but only if it makes sense."

The city wants the airport to remain undeveloped open land. The green space will help improve the climate in Berlin, they say. Tour guide Thomas Merz will then keep his job because the 300,000 square meter terminal will be rented out and there will still be visitors eager for a walk around this piece of Berlin history.

There's still no final word on the future of the legendary airport. About the only thing certain is that flights will continue to land there until at least 2008.