If you spend twenty minutes walking around central Berlin, you will encounter various shipping container spaces. Many are used on construction sites as office spaces, break rooms, or temporary housing; others are convenient co-working spaces, and near Templehof, the containers are being used to house refugees. These containers were once seen as only temporary solutions, but now they are being utilized by architects and young business owners to create affordable, aesthetic spaces. Many Berliners have spoken about the recent increase in rent and cost of living. With more than 80% of Berlin’s population renting homes, this problem is something many can relate to.

After reunification, many remember the price of living being extremely cheap, some of my Professors have joked that “you could walk down the street and find an apartment.” Thirty years ago, there was no shortage of space and developers recognized this as an opportunity.  In 2017, Berlin experienced one of the biggest property price increases in the world, and the year after that it was declared the “number one city in Europe for property investment.” With an increase in people moving to Berlin, many locals have found it difficult to house themselves in the city. On January 30, 2020, the Berlin parliament approved a rent cap, supposed to stop rent increases for five years in buildings developed before 2014. However, this decision was revoked in 2021, due to the argument that only the federal government has the right to control rent. 

Evidently, this is a huge issue but not without people in search of solutions. In 2014, Holzer Kobler Architekturen, designed EBA15, a student housing unit, made entirely out of shipping containers. The building is located in Plänterwald, close to a protected forest scape and a large allotment garden plot. For some, being close to nature is ideal, but for members of the younger generation, Plänterwald may seem a bit isolated. Recognizing isolation as an issue Hozer made it a priority to incorporate community spaces such as shared kitchens, green spaces, and barbecue areas in his design.

EBA15

near EBA15

BRLO BRWHOUSE, is another example of the trendy way that shipping containers can be used. The brewery offers tours of its two-story establishment and is proud that the containers allow for it to easily be relocated. 

Adlershof

Just a bit further from Plänterwald lies Adlershof which is considered to be a part of the “city of science.” Once, Adlershof was home to the Johannisthal Air Field now it is home to ten research institutes and the science and math sectors of Humbolt university. Living in Plänterwald, surrounded by green space and only a 15-minute ride into the city was appealing to me. However, even the 350 euro rent would not tempt me to live in Aldershof, surrounded by cement and buildings that scream WE ARE DOING TECHNICAL RESEARCH. 

We are doing tech-buildings

g  The cool buildings in Adlershof

Asking about rent

Yes, the housing situation in Berlin is dismal especially if you want to live close to the center. Wanting to know more about how exactly one searches for a reasonable space I talked to a friend who has been living in West Berlin near the Zoologischer Garten. He explained that like most places and things you need connections. His friend originally found the apartment on Ebay and after touring explained to the landlord that he could not pay the full price. Surprisingly, the landlord explained that he just wanted a nice person to take over the rent and allowed him to pay 430 euros a month. When his friend decided to return to university in Sweeden he was able to take over the apartment. So far, living in Berlin has not been a challenge for him, but he explained that even for students housing is unreliable. Often universities will accept students and then explain that there are no open dormitories creating a challenging situation, especially for students coming from abroad.