Controversy Surrounds Refugee Housing Near Historic University Site in Berlin

A dispute has arisen regarding the installation of temporary housing for refugees adjacent to a historic university building in Berlin. The proposed location at the Free University (FU) in Dahlem has been deemed unsuitable by experts due to its impact on several protected monuments in the area.

According to a recent assessment commissioned by local residents, the planned housing unit, designed to accommodate 232 refugees, is incompatible with the surrounding historical context. The report states that the presence of the container village would disrupt sightlines, disturb the aesthetic integrity of the area, and give the impression of an industrial zone.

The construction site is located on a large asphalt parking lot at Thielallee 63, directly beside the historically significant Hahn-Meitner Building. The building, which served as the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry and was completed in 1912, is one of five protected structures that would be affected by the proposed development.

Local political representatives have voiced their concerns about the project. A newly elected member of parliament expressed that the location is not only historically significant but also sensitive from an urban planning perspective. He emphasized the need for careful consideration of the potential visual and structural impacts on the heritage sites surrounding the housing project.

While the Landesdenkmalamt (State Office for the Preservation of Monuments) acknowledges that the planned structure may obstruct views of the protected buildings, it asserts that accommodating refugees remains a priority for Berlin. The office has agreed to the temporary installation of containers, citing the pressing need for refugee housing despite the visual impairments it may cause.

Despite the state's approval for temporary structures, there are worries among residents that the containers might remain longer than anticipated. The current plan allows for a five-year operation period, but there are fears that the duration could extend to ten years. Critics have suggested alternative sites for refugee accommodations, pointing to a nearby property that previously housed refugees from 2015 to 2017, which remains vacant.

Community members have expressed frustration over the lack of communication regarding the project. Since the Berlin Senate approved the site for the housing project in March 2024, no public informational meetings have been held to discuss the plans with local residents. An informational session is scheduled for September 17, just before the anticipated construction begins. In response to the growing opposition, a group of approximately 20 residents has banded together to prepare legal action against the container housing project.

The ongoing debate highlights the tension between the urgent need for refugee accommodations and the preservation of historical sites, underscoring the complexity of urban planning in a culturally rich environment like Berlin.