Berlin, July 26, 2026 – The Berlin Senate has expressed immense satisfaction following the inclusion of the Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf, located in the southwest of the city, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “We are very pleased,” declared City Development Senator Christian Gaebler (SPD).
Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf: A Symbol of Modernity and Affordable Living
Senator Gaebler emphasized that the Waldsiedlung Zehlendorf, designed by architect Bruno Taut, represents a new beginning in urban development. “Its uniqueness is a symbol of modernity that has shown for around 100 years how affordable living with a high quality of life can succeed.” He added that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s decision not only acknowledges the quality of the settlement but also carries a historical idea into the present.
The Committee made its decision during a meeting in Busan, South Korea, confirming that the settlement, constructed in the Bauhaus style between 1926 and 1932, now holds UNESCO World Heritage status. This is not a new entry to the World Heritage List but rather an expansion of the “Berlin Modernism Housing Estates” site, which was initially recognized in 2008. The expanded site now includes a total of seven settlements, among them the well-known Hufeisensiedlung in Neukölln district and the Weiße Siedlung in Reinickendorf.
Germany currently boasts a total of 55 World Heritage Sites.
