Sustainable building in Westend
Around 580 new apartments are planned for the Berlin district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf – close to Olympiastadion, the Waldbühne amphitheatre and Grunewald. This makes the new Westend neighbourhood one of the biggest rental-property development projects in the district. It replaces an old, simpler development from the 1950s, which was originally built as temporary accommodation for members of the US and British armed forces.
Meeting points for occupants
As the new development is being built on the footprint of the old one, the overall character and valuable collection of trees will be preserved. At the same time, sustainable construction comes into play: in this context, sustainability means more than just considering environmental and climate-related issues. This future-focused project factors in the current and future occupants of the development, the identity and development of the neighbourhood and the economic viability of the project in terms of preserving resources, among other things. Open spaces should become meeting points for occupants. A smart mobility concept preventing traffic from passing through the development is also planned. And Deutsche Wohnen has been assisted by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) from the very beginning.
Tenant communications
In addition to the development planning, tenant communications are central to the project. An on-site office for existing tenants with regular office hours and a fixed point of contact has been set up, information about the plan has been provided at several events, and tenants have been able to contribute their ideas and visions of the floor plans for the new apartments at workshops.
Cooperation with the district
The basis for the project is an urban development agreement between the district and Deutsche Wohnen. The top priority was approaching the current occupants of the old estate with care. Deutsche Wohnen is also handling additional services, such as the construction of a nursery and opening up the infrastructure of the new neighbourhood.