studentendorf schlachtensee

Student Housing | Historic Renovation

The student village Schlachtensee was built in the years 1957-1959 as part of the American "Re-Education" program for the reconstruction of the city of Berlin after the Second World War. In order to overcome totalitarianism, the "ideal of a democratic coexistence" should be reflected in the form of living together as well as in the architecture of the residential buildings and the urban structure of the ensemble. It is considered one of the first residential campus facilities and represents a significant example of post-war modernism.

In this sense, the architects Hermann Fehling, Daniel Gogel and Peter Pfankuch grouped multi-storey residential buildings around a center with "village square", town hall, library and community facilities. Even in the houses themselves, the idea of social center of the residential community with generous communal areas, open staircases and living kitchens was implemented, whereas the private living spaces were kept small. Lack of investment in maintenance and resulting vacancy asked the student village in the 1980s, however, so that a discussion about the demolition of the residential campus was created, which was completed in 2001 by the initiative of the residents and the establishment of a cooperative. In 1991, the student village was listed in the list of buildings and garden sites in Berlin. In 2006 it was elevated to the rank of National Cultural Monument and is almost completely preserved, including its interior structures and furnishings.

Since 2006, a careful modernization of the existing substance of the student village takes place, taking into account the historical architectural language; By 2018, a large part of the buildings could already be renewed. In order to adapt the dwellings to contemporary needs of living space, the student "stalls" were converted into residential groups of different sizes. The original fixtures were preserved. The interiors regain their original color, which illustrates the close relationship between indoor and outdoor space. In addition, there was a hygienic, fire protection and energy renovation. Thanks to a delicate insulation of the building envelope and the use of narrow, thermally separated steel window profiles, it was possible to preserve the historic appearance of the residential buildings and at the same time reduce energy consumption by 60 percent. Decentralized ventilation with heat recovery ensures that individual areas can now be individually controlled.

The refurbishment and modernization of the houses, as well as the revitalization of the open common areas, will make the student village attractive again. In the future, 900 students will be offered housing. With the preservation of the monument an important contribution of both democratic building and organic architecture of post-war modernism is preserved.

WINFRIED BRENNE ARCHITECTS