Sketch of the WerkBundStadt Berlin
Drawing: Gottfried Müller
Station 24: Jungfernheide
Werkbund City
In 2016 the Deutscher Werkbund Berlin started to plan the WerkBundStadt Berlin (Werkbund City Berlin), which was intended to become a pioneering symbol of contemporary housing construction. The 2.8-hectare site of former oil storage tanks in Berlin Charlottenburg was intended to become a car-free, socially diverse neighbourhood with 1,100 rental homes – designed by 32 prestigious architectural practices. Instead of an elite exhibition project, it was planned as a vibrant residential quarter that addressed the everyday social reality of urban living. 330 of the homes were to be rent-controlled, while high standards for ecology and energy efficiency would make the project a pioneer of climate-neutral urban development.
For a long time, it seemed possible that the plans would be implemented: the Werkbund, the authorities of the Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf and the then owners of the site agreed a joint agreement in 2017. However, after the site was resold several times at ever-increasing prices the prospect of realising the project disappeared. The Werkbund also criticised the Bezirksamt for failing to insist firmly enough on the agreement being upheld. The WerkBundStadt Berlin remained unbuilt.
Sketch of the WerkBundStadt Berlin
Drawing: Gottfried Müller
Visualisation of WerkBundStadt
Drawing: Gottfried Müller
For What If Berlin, Akira Takayama transposes unrealised projects from the archives of the Berliner Festspiele and other Berlin cultural institutions, as well as from architects and artists, into the present and asks us which vision we want to realise in the future.
The future vision for the project Werkbund City, that will be presented in the frame of What If Berlin from 28 August 2026 onwards, will respond to the following question: What if Siemensbahn was used as a central infrastructure for a new district?
Which of the 27 visions for the future is the most exciting? Which project does Berlin need in future? Which idea should actually be realised?
Until 30 September 2026, you can vote for up to three of the 27 visions for the future. The results will be displayed live to give the latest impression of the public’s reactions.