The former GESOBAU administrative building at Wilhelmsruher Damm 142 in Berlin’s Märkisches Viertel was converted into housing and commercial space after the state-owned housing company moved its headquarters to Pankow. GESOBAU AG was the building owner and developer of the conversion. The former office building had been used as the company’s administrative headquarters from 1971 until 2019. 23
Work took place from summer 2020 to autumn 2023, with tenants moving in at the end of the project. The conversion created 66 new rental homes; six existing apartments in the building brought the total to 72. Of the new homes, 53 one- and two-room apartments were designed to be barrier-free and are particularly suited to older residents. The project also includes larger three- and four-room homes. 234
The building’s original form was retained, and its existing reinforced-concrete structure was reused. The interior, façade, windows, roof and building services were rebuilt or adapted to accommodate the new layouts. At street level, the completed building provides commercial units, a GESOBAU customer centre and space for a care service. 23
The project is a specific example of converting vacant office space for residential use. In its April 2024 article, the Berliner Mieterverein reported that GESOBAU’s former headquarters had been turned into 66 homes, including 53 barrier-free units. 11