Campus Ohlauer Straße/ Berlin, Germany/ 2023
Type: Affordable Housing, Residential
Size: 116,000 sq ft / 10,780 m
Height: 5‑7 floors 80 ft / 24.5m
Status: Completed 2023
Situated on the former site of the Gerhart Hauptmann School in the edgy Kreuzberg neighborhood, Campus Ohlauer Straße is a model of integrative, high-quality affordable housing. In a district long associated with crime and other urban challenges, the project sought to create a housing block that both reflected the character of its surroundings and addressed the needs of its residents. The design emphasizes economy and efficiency in construction, strong energy performance, and a secure, sheltered courtyard offering safe outdoor space for children and other vulnerable residents.
The central courtyard serves as a community building space.
The U-shaped complex, rising seven levels at its highest point and stepping down to six and five levels along the other volumes, frames a generous courtyard that encourages social interaction while maintaining privacy. Each unit features a private balcony, with access provided via exterior walkways overlooking the courtyard. This design connects the central courtyard to all units, fostering interaction among residents while allowing daylight to enter each unit from both sides for improved natural illumination. The building incorporates a central elevator core and exterior staircases, ensuring both convenience and connectivity.
Ground-floor spaces enhance community life, housing the public Else Ury Library and a daycare center, alongside ramp-accessed underground bike parking that provides 213 spaces—supporting residents’ ability to navigate the city by Berlin’s preferred mode of travel. The result is a living environment that demonstrates how design excellence, sustainability, and affordability can coexist.
The courtyard opens onto a landscaped pedestrian only greenway.
High-quality, modern design is at the core of this project. Using modular, prefabricated construction, the apartments combine efficiency, precision, and flexibility, allowing for thoughtfully planned layouts and rapid construction without compromising aesthetics. Innovative design features include a sustainable radiant floor heating system and striking glass walls crafted from recycled broken glass, showcasing environmentally responsible materials in a contemporary architectural language. A lush green roof with integrated solar further reinforces the project’s ecological and aesthetic ambition.
