WiLMa19 (Magda) is a collectively run housing project at Magdalenenstraße 19 in Berlin-Lichtenberg, Germany. The building was formerly an office of the East German Ministry for State Security. The project was established in 2012, and the Magda GmbH bought the property on 28 November that year. The building has six floors and houses about 65 people of different ages and occupations. 1
The project’s stated aim is to provide affordable housing while supporting broader access to socially priced rents in Berlin. Its building contains 2,330 square metres of residential space and 174 square metres of commercial space; the listed rent is €4.70 per square metre. The residents have also redesigned the grounds as shared green space with a playground. 1
WiLMa19 is part of the Mietshäuser Syndikat. The property is held by Magda GmbH, whose shareholders are the residents’ house association and the Syndikat; this structure prevents the residents from selling the building back into the property market on their own. Residents organise the house through the association and make decisions about its use and management. 2
The project’s shared event room, “die Remise,” is used by initiatives and for parties, concerts, film evenings, radio activities, sports groups and political information events. The available project information identifies the resident community and its legal entities, rather than individual founders or project leaders. 12