Berlin, March 7, 2026 – With student housing in Berlin becoming increasingly scarce, a master’s project at the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) is investigating whether parts of the university’s vacant mathematics building can be temporarily converted into residential spaces. A walk-in mock-up has been created in the east wing of the building to test these innovative housing models.
Addressing Berlin’s Student Housing Crisis
Berlin has been grappling with a severe shortage of student housing for years, marked by rising rents and high demand. Concurrently, several public buildings, including the mathematics building at Ernst-Reuter-Platz, stand partially or entirely vacant. The mathematics building, which has been largely empty since 2023, is now the focus of a student-led initiative. Discussions surrounding the building’s future have included demolition, renovation, or repurposing. Against this backdrop, the ‘Campus as Commons’ study project emerged, aiming to explore the feasibility of temporary student accommodation within the existing structure.
Architectural Heritage: The 1970s Math Building
The mathematics building, constructed in the 1970s, was designed by architects Georg Kohlmaier and Barna von Sartory following a 1967 competition to expand the TU campus. Its design uniquely blends several architectural styles, including high-tech architecture, solar architecture, pop art elements, and aspects of ‘soft’ brutalism. Characteristic features include large glass surfaces, exposed technical installations, and prominent concrete supports and walls. Red and blue metal panels further define its exterior. The glasshouse construction was also intended to maximize daylight and harness solar heat, reflecting the energy concerns of the 1970s.
Experimental Pop-Up Living: A Mock-Up at TU Berlin
The ‘Campus as Commons’ project has transformed the east wing of the building into an experimental space. Master’s students in architecture, urban planning, and urban design have constructed a walk-in mock-up for temporary student living. Four seminar rooms on the seventh floor have been converted into a prototypical residential area. This prototype includes double rooms, a living area with a bathroom, a kitchen, and an exhibition space. All elements are mobile and fully reversible, ensuring minimal intervention with the existing building structure. The project receives support from initiatives such as ‘vonwegenleer,’ ‘Kunst-Stoffe e.V.,’ and ‘Haus der Materialisierung,’ which provide materials and expertise in re-use strategies.
A Spatial Impetus for Resourceful Urban Planning
While a permanent residential use is not currently planned, as the building is still legally designated for university purposes, the project serves as a crucial ‘spatial impetus.’ It aims to highlight that vacant buildings in cities facing housing shortages should be considered valuable resources. This initiative underscores the potential for creative solutions to urban challenges by repurposing existing infrastructure.
The project’s findings could influence future urban planning strategies, promoting sustainable and adaptable uses for public buildings. By demonstrating the viability of temporary conversions, the students are advocating for a more resourceful approach to urban development, particularly in addressing critical social needs like affordable housing.
Source: https://www.entwicklungsstadt.de/pop-up-wohnen-im-mathematikgebauede-studierende-testen-neue-wohnmodelle-an-der-tu-berlin/
