A new neighborhood for Cologne-Merheim: VIVAWEST acquires 120 apartments from the wvm Group

Construction is underway on the Lindgens site along the Rhine—a project we’ve been working on for twelve years. A neighborhood that will transform southern Mülheim in the coming years. By Erika Werres.

Berlin, June 30, 2026. The wvm Group has appointed Ralph Scherer as Managing Director of its Berlin office. Together with David Fischer, he will lead the wvm Group’s Berlin operations going forward. In his role, Scherer will be responsible in particular for the areas of project development, construction, sales, and organization at the management level and in close cooperation with the respective department heads. Scherer has many years of experience in the real estate industry and deep expertise in the development and execution of complex projects. With his appointment, the wvm Group is specifically strengthening its operational leadership in Berlin and sending a clear signal regarding the further expansion of the office. David Fischer will continue to oversee project acquisition and strategically expand the Berlin project portfolio. At the same time, he remains an integral part of the management team and stands for continuity and reliability at the Berlin location. With an extensive project portfolio and several projects in development, Berlin is one of the wvm Group’s key growth markets. “With Ralph Scherer, we are gaining a proven leader for our Berlin management team. At the same time, David Fischer stands for continuity and stability. Together, they will successfully further develop the Berlin location,” says Wolfgang von Moers, managing partner of the wvm Group. Dr. Clemens Paschke will step down as managing director of the wvm Group Berlin on June 30, 2026, by mutual agreement. The wvm Group thanks him for his dedication and his contribution to the expansion of the Berlin office and wishes him all the best for the future.

The future doesn’t just happen on its own—it is shaped. For the wvm Group, this means taking responsibility: for livable cities, for sustainable neighborhoods, and for the people who live there. This very commitment is at the heart of our presence at the polis Convention 2026. On May 6 and 7, leading players in urban development will gather in Düsseldorf to discuss the future of urban spaces under the theme “New Horizons”—and we’ll be right in the thick of it. The wvm Group is part of a strong network in the Cologne region. Together with Kreissparkasse Köln, KSK-Immobilien, KSK-Real Estate Management, Metrolog, and Mull und Partner, we will be represented at the joint booth A04.4 —under the umbrella of the Cologne/Bonn region. What unites us is a shared conviction: urban development does not end at property lines. It means taking responsibility—for the region, for its economic future, and for the quality of life of its people. For us, it’s about more than just buildings: We create living spaces that work in the long term—ecologically, socially, and economically. Housing plays a central role in this. Because housing is far more than just a roof over one’s head. It is the foundation for stability, community, and quality of life. That is why we develop projects with the clear goal of creating sustainable and livable neighborhoods that meet the demands of today and tomorrow. Through our work, we contribute to securing the region’s economic strength while simultaneously creating livable spaces. In doing so, we think beyond property lines—and always with the people who shape our neighborhoods in mind. For us, the polis Convention 2026 is not just a stage, but above all a place for dialogue. Exchange with partners, municipalities, and industry colleagues is crucial for gaining new perspectives and developing solutions together. Visit us at Booth A04.4 and join the conversation—for example, at our program events: We look forward to inspiring encounters, new ideas, and working together to shape the future of the city.

Berlin, April 16, 2026 – Yesterday afternoon, the topping-out ceremony was held for the Zwieseler Hof residential project in Berlin’s Karlshorst district. The project by the wvm Group Berlin comprises 321 apartments. The 147 condominiums in the first construction phase are expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of the year after a construction period of just 20 months. Completion of the 174 rental apartments is scheduled for mid-2027. Christian Gaebler, Senator for Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, views the project as an important contribution to expanding Berlin’s housing supply and highlighted in particular the 108 rent-controlled apartments being built on Zwieseler Straße. He noted that Zwieseler Hof represents a new mixed-use neighborhood and thanked everyone involved for their dedication. Martin Schaefer, Mayor of Berlin-Lichtenberg, added: “Lichtenberg has been a leader in new housing construction for several years. The district, its population, the associated infrastructure, and quality of life are growing continuously. This is by no means a given and once again underscores the excellent cooperation demonstrated by the district, its administration, and the project developers active in Lichtenberg.” “The Zwieseler Hof is being realized according to the Berlin model of cooperative building land development. This also required extensive coordination processes with the district,” reported David Fischer, Managing Director of the wvm Group Berlin. “As a result of this constructive collaboration, a former industrial area is being transformed into an attractive and sustainable neighborhood that, as a standard energy-efficient building (EH) 55 EE standard, featuring apartments ranging from 30 to 119 square meters, a green courtyard, 30 percent subsidized rental housing, two playgrounds, 800 bicycle parking spaces, and 120 car parking spaces in an underground garage. I would like to thank everyone involved for their contribution to this exceptionally beautiful and important project.” “The alternating four- and five-story buildings follow a uniform façade design but form distinct addresses with thoughtfully designed building entrances,” architect Tobias Nöfer describes the plan. Between the five-story buildings with photovoltaic-equipped hipped roofs, green roof gardens for rainwater retention are situated above the four-story buildings. “The courtyard, where most of the building entrances are located, will be planted with large trees.” Dr. Clemens Paschke, Managing Director of the wvm Group Berlin, thanked the Lichtenberg district for the excellent cooperation: “During the complex approval process, we received comprehensive support from the staff as well as from City Councilor for Construction Camilla Schuler. They thereby laid the foundation for successful construction here and now.” Paschke extended his thanks to everyone involved in the project, specifically architect Tobias Nöfer for the design of the neighborhood, the company GOLDBECK, which, as the general contractor, is overseeing the project’s implementation using a serial construction method, and the construction workers who continued working on the project even in winter under difficult weather conditions. In his speech, Robert Wall, Managing Director of GOLDBECK Nordost GmbH, praised his GOLDBECK team and their achievements, as well as the courage of those involved in building under the current market conditions. He highlighted the potential of modular construction. GOLDBECK is currently building around 2,500 apartments in Berlin. Jan-Hendrik Goldbeck, Co-CEO of the GOLDBECK Group, says: “What we are building here in Karlshorst clearly demonstrates the direction housing construction must take: fast, intelligent, and combining good design with cost-effectiveness. Together with wvm and Tobias Nöfer, we are demonstrating how efficiently systematized construction and high architectural standards go hand in hand. If we want more housing in Germany, then we need exactly these kinds of projects: pragmatic in process, ambitious in outcome, and clearly focused on speed and efficiency.”