The Berliner Genossenschaftsforum emerged from crisis. When architect and housing visionary Klaus Novy died in 1991, his extensive archive on housing reform threatened to vanish. Berlin housing cooperatives and Novy's former colleagues rescued the collection and transformed it into something larger: a nonprofit association dedicated to preserving cooperative housing history while advancing its contemporary role in urban development.
Formally established on October 21, 1993, the forum began with twelve founding members. Today it encompasses 53 Berlin and Potsdam housing cooperatives representing approximately 150,000 apartments and providing homes for over 250,000 residents. The organization functions as a bridge between academic theory and practical cooperative work, hosting seminars, property tours, and research initiatives that connect member organizations across the region.
The forum's scope extends beyond archive management. It examines housing cooperatives as solutions to urban challenges—examining democratic governance structures, sustainable building practices, and equitable housing access. Current work includes hosting exhibitions on cooperative transformation and supporting student research exploring how cooperatives address climate change and housing shortages.
Since 2021, the cooperativ Werkraum in Berlin-Schöneberg serves as a permanent workspace and exhibition venue. Located in historic landmark buildings, it offers free Thursday afternoon visits showcasing 150 years of cooperative living experiences. The forum frames cooperative housing not as nostalgia but as active innovation—a living model continuously adapted to present social and ecological demands. This positioning distinguishes it from purely historical institutions, presenting cooperatives as contemporary solutions rather than historical curiosities.