# The Role of Apartment Buildings in the Housing Debate

**Source**: https://www.tu.berlin/en/news-from-tu-berlin/das-mietshaus-in-der-wohnungsfrage
**Parent**: https://www.tu.berlin/en/studying

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# The Role of Apartment Buildings in the Housing Debate

16/02/2026

- Press Release

There is still no solution for Berlin's housing problem in sight, with rising rents, dwindling social housing, and a political focus on constructing new buildings continuing to dominate the debate. At the same time, Berlin's *Gründerzeit* apartment buildings, one of the city's defining architectural features, have received little attention as a potential solution. This is precisely where the exhibition "The Apartment Building in the Housing Question" comes in. From 19 February to 5 March 2026 at Berlin's Tuntenhaus, the Chair of Architecture of Transformation at Technische Universität Berlin will be presenting designs developed by 58 students featuring new strategies for creating more living space in existing buildings.

### **Living space available, but hardly used**

Around a quarter of all apartments in Berlin were built before 1918. Yet, these are rarely included as an active resource in current housing policy strategies. At the same time, the city's "invisible vacancies," such as those resulting from speculation, lock-in effects, and the expiry of social housing commitments remain difficult to quantify statistically. These facts reveal the shortcomings both in social and ecological terms of a policy that focuses purely on constructing new buildings.

### **Tangible proposals from research and teaching**

In winter semester 2025/26, bachelor's and master's students at TU Berlin looked at ways of transforming existing apartment building structures. Working in their design studio in cooperation with experts from the fields of architecture, economics, energy planning, and urban research, the students developed tangible strategies and tools to activate previously unused housing potential.

*©* Nanni Grau

Presentation of the designs produced by architecture students showing new strategies for creating more living space in existing buildings.

Their projects demonstrate that

- by intelligently reorganizing their structures, many *Gründerzeit* buildings could house twice as many people without the need for further soil sealing,
- smaller private residential units with expanded communal areas enable new forms of socially mixed living,
- effective conversion practices – such as in terms of space sharing, infrastructure, and energy and resources – can make an important contribution to climate-friendly urban development.

The projects range from minimally invasive conversions to long-term development scenarios extending to 2075, with the Berlin apartment building seen as a model space for a new, resource-conserving living culture.

### Exhibition providing a space for public debate

For two weeks, the students' design studio will relocate to the Tuntenhaus, where it will provide an open space for ideas and discourse. Visitors will have the chance to discuss projects, talk to students, and receive individual advice on housing. The exhibition is expressly intended as a contribution to the current housing policy debate in Berlin.

### Vernissage with a discussion on housing policy

The vernissage, which starts at 19:00 on 19 February, will include a public discussion on the future of housing in Berlin. Subject to confirmation, the discussion will include Dr. Ersin Nas (housing policy spokesperson for the CDU, tbc), Florian Schmidt (Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district councilor, tbc), David Robotham (sociologist, Selbstbau e.G.), Theresa Keilhacker (former president of the Berlin Chamber of Architects and urban design architect), Philipp Strohm (managing director of GSE gGmbH), as well as members of the public and students of TU Berlin.

### Exhibition details

**When:** 19 February – 5 March 2026\
**Opening hours:** Thursday–Saturday 15:00–19:00, Sunday 14:00–18:00\
**Where:** Tuntenhaus, Kastanienallee 86, 10435 Berlin\
**Vernissage:** 19 February 2026, 19:00\
**Finissage:** 5 March 2026, 19:00

### Project managers at TU Berlin

**Architectural concept:**\
Professor Nanni Grau, Maria Hudl, Marie Reichmann – Chair of Architecture of Transformation

**Economic concept:**\
Professor Dr. Kristin Wellner, Dr. Paul van der Kuil – Chair of Planning & Construction Economics/Real Estate

**Energy concept:**\
Professor Dr. Angèle Tersluisen, Elisa Stamm – Chair of Architecture, Building Technology and Systems with the Hermann-Rietschel-Institut, Julia Carolin Lange

**Accompanying seminar Living – House – Residing:**\
Professor Dr. Ursula Quatember – Chair of History of Architecture and Urbanism

*Author: Barbara Halstenberg*

*©* Nanni Grau

The projects provide examples of how many Gründerzeit buildings could house twice as many people by means of intelligent reorganization.

Prof.

Nanni Grau

Head of the Chair of Architecture of Transformation

[grau(at)tu-berlin.de](#)

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| Organization name | Architecture of Transformation |