This Renovation Story focuses on the legacy of two million affordable LDS-apartments built between the 1970s and 1990s in the GDR, intended to provide housing for the working class. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, many of these apartments were vacated, and more than 300,000 were demolished during Berlin’s city renewal efforts. This issue extends to other former socialist states like Poland, Czechia, and Bulgaria, where a third of the population still lives in serial housing, and in Estonia and Latvia, the number exceeds half of the population.

One notable project is Haus 08 by Stefan Forster GmbH in Halle Neustadt, a former P2 PLS apartment block. The renovation focuses on creating diverse layouts for all apartments, introducing new openings, spacious terraces, vibrant colors, and redesigned entrances, moving away from the serial nature of the original design. The project also introduces gardens and more open spaces, improving air circulation and overall quality of life within these once-typical structures.

By revitalizing these buildings, Haus 08 brings new life to a part of the city that was left behind. This renovation transforms the character of the area, enhancing both the social and environmental aspects, and demonstrating how adapting these structures can contribute to more livable and sustainable urban environments.

Visit the website of Stefan Forster GmbH