Since building land is as valuable as gold dust, Berlin has to come up with something. Like the Buckower Höfe in the south of Neukölln.
The state-owned Gewobag is expanding the 1970s quarter, which was built at the same time as Gropiusstadt, by 255 to 1249 apartments. And the tenants who already live there also benefit – new windows and thermal insulation, new bathrooms, fiber optic network.
“Berlin has to grow in width, in density and in height,” demanded Berlin’s governor Franziska Giffey (43, SPD) again when visiting the construction site.
At least 16 four or six storeys get a light wooden floor on top – not all, because of the shading. Power plus 79 apartments.
An old multi-storey car park and a vacant row of shops have been demolished. Instead, five new buildings with 176 apartments (one to five rooms) will be built in the gaps by 2023.
“A real example of how scarce urban building land can be gained through densification,” said Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz (46, SPD).
What will future tenants pay in the new buildings? Subsidized social housing is available from 6.50 euros/m², without subsidies 9.90 to 11 euros/m². The client is investing around 150 million euros.
The apartments are not yet available, but Gewobag boss Snezana Michaelis does not expect excessive demand, unlike in the city center.