321 apartments, a shared goal, and a strong commitment to the future of housing in Berlin: With yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the “Zwieseler Hof” project, the wvm Group and GOLDBECK celebrated a significant milestone.
About 100 guests accepted the invitation to Berlin-Karlshorst—including representatives from politics, government, business, and the media. In the immediate vicinity of the Berlin Zoo, the construction was not merely symbolic; it laid the foundation—in a figurative sense—for a new chapter in urban living.
Dr. Clemens Paschke, CEO of the wvm Group Berlin, opened the event with a clear appeal: “In a city that is growing, we must not only build—we must take responsibility. Responsibility for the neighborhoods, the people, and the processes. That is exactly why we are here today.”
The cornerstone was laid for a complex comprising 321 apartments — 147 for-sale units and 174 rental units, 30% of which are subsidized housing. In addition, there will be a daycare center, 800 bicycle parking spaces, and 120 car parking spaces in an underground garage —a well-planned, urban residential neighborhood on a former industrial site in the heart of Lichtenberg. Construction is expected to take approximately two years.
A special moment was the speech by District Mayor Martin Schaefer, who praised the project with the following words:“321 new apartments and a new daycare center for Lichtenberg. This is good news for many people who are looking for a place to call home. With the Zwieseler Hof, Karlshorst is gaining a new neighborhood with social infrastructure. A densely paved area will thus be put to good use and largely restored to its natural state. I congratulate the wvm Group on today’s groundbreaking ceremony and wish everyone involved a swift and accident-free construction process.”
Dietmar Nöske from the Lichtenberg Urban Development Office also emphasized the project’s importance for the district:
“For a long time, there was little new development in Karlshorst—which makes it all the more wonderful that, with the ‘ ’ Zwieseler Hof, a neighborhood is now being created that fits well with the times. The wvm Group’s tenacity during the approval process was impressive—that certainly helped make the success of this project possible.”
Turning to the architectural design, David Fischer, managing director of the wvm Group Berlin, handed the floor to architect Tobias Nöfer, but not before emphasizing:
“Every building is not just a functional structure, but a part of the cityscape. It influences how we move through it and how we perceive it.”
“This neighborhood wasn’t created with a single stroke of a brush—it was a long, challenging process that required a great deal of imagination. For us as an architectural firm, it was a project that evolved over the years and ultimately took shape—in the Zwieseler Hof, a place that lives up to its name: a livable neighborhood for Berlin, ” Nöfer added later in his speech.
The construction is being carried out by GOLDBECK—a partner known for progressive and customized construction methods that meet high architectural standards.
Dietmar Rekow, Branch Manager for Office and Residential Buildings in Berlin at GOLDBECK Nordost GmbH, explained:
“The project on Zwieseler Straße demonstrates that, through prefabricated and modular construction methods, we can quickly and efficiently deliver modern residential buildings with a focus on sustainability.”
The collaboration between wvm and Goldbeck was first publicly unveiled last year at EXPO REAL 2024. Now it is taking concrete shape: In addition to the Zwieseler Hof, a total of 413 apartments are to be jointly developed by 2026.
Following the ceremonial speeches, the symbolic time capsule was buried, the buffet was opened—and standing on the construction gravel, one could clearly sense what is truly taking shape here: responsibility, trust, and commitment.
