Tempelhofer Damm: 26 new apartments and hairdresser opening!

Tempelhofer Damm: 26 new apartments and hairdresser opening!

A new residential and commercial building was completed at Tempelhofer Damm 155 in Berlin, which will significantly change the cityscape. The former low-rise area has now made way for a six-story building that includes 26 modern apartments and a commercial space on the ground floor. A hairdresser's shop has already been opened, so that the use of the commercial space is immediately established on an informal basis. Development city reports on the attractive architecture with light plastered facades, floor-to-ceiling windows and steel balconies that characterize the new building.

The dark gray, recessed staggered floor, which forms the architectural conclusion of the building, is particularly eye-catching. The newly designed ground floor area is clad in stone with large shop windows, while the facade between the first and fourth floors is structured by small steel balconies. Through innovative structural elements such as photovoltaic systems, heat pump technology and triple glazing, the building meets modern energy requirements. Green flat roofs were also integrated, which help to store rainwater and improve the microclimate.

Part of the structural change

The new building is part of a comprehensive structural change on Tempelhofer Damm, where several projects such as the conversion of the former Karstadt building and the modern office building “Cubus 156” are also contributing to the transformation of the urban space. A mixed urban area is being created here in which living, working and good amenities go hand in hand.

Against the background of a noticeable nationwide housing shortage, the project is extremely relevant. A study published on behalf of the “Social Housing” association found that there is a shortage of over 550,000 apartments in Germany. This shortage is primarily due to the increase in immigration numbers in recent years, while at the same time too few new buildings are being created. Despite a high number of vacant apartments, demand remains high. 52% of people in Germany live on rent, which is remarkably high compared to other European countries.

Rising rental prices

Rents in big cities are rising dramatically. Between 2010 and 2022, average relet rents increased by almost 70%. The average net rent in Cologne is 13.44 euros and in Munich it is even 20.59 euros. At the same time, the vacancy rate in Germany has risen to 4.3%, with cities such as Hamburg and Berlin particularly affected. In these cities, one in three vacant apartments has been vacant for more than 12 months, while in rural areas two thirds of vacant apartments have been unused for at least a year.

The federal government aims to create 400,000 new buildings every year, but the reality is different: only 294,400 apartments were completed in 2023. The forecasts for 2025 indicate that between 150,000 and 200,000 apartments could be built. The reasons for the lower level of new residential construction include increased interest rates, high construction costs and lengthy approval processes, which mean that many people continue to have to deal with increasing rent burdens.