We are World Heritage!  Berlin’s Modernist housing estates added to the UNESCO World Heritage list

Berlin, 07.07.2008. Now it’s official: Six Berlin Modernist housing estates (Gartenstadt Falkenberg, Siedlung Schillerpark, Wohnstadt Carl Legien, Großsiedlung Siemensstadt, Hufeisensiedlung Britz and the Weiße Stadt) have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. UNESCO’s decision, taken in Quebec, Canada, means that the Berlin housing estates belong to the 660 cultural heritage sites across the globe and, as "cultural sites worthy of permanent preservation," will enjoy particular protection from now on. For the owners of the housing estates, Berliner Bau- und Wohnungsgenossenschaft von 1892 eG, the Deutsche Wohnen Group together with Pirelli RE, the admittance of the housing estates to the UNESCO World Heritage site list is an exceptional accolade.

"Of course, UNESCO’s decision makes is all very proud. The joy is not only great in Germany, but also in Italy and thus, in the true meaning of the word, boundess. Pirelli RE has been engaged in monument protection since its foundation. For this reason Wohnstadt Carl Legien is of particular importance to us," said a spokesman for Pirelli RE.
The appointment to the UNESCO World Heritage list honours, alongside the Berlin reformist estates’ specific design and construction, the involvement of the owners of the housing estates. For decades all the owners have invested untiringly in the structures. It is now obvious that this investment has paid off: the Berlin 1920s estates are more popular than ever before.

"It is our duty as owners to take responsibility for these important cultural objects and to preserve the characteristic image of these monuments. Our getting together to form the Initiative should emphasise this responsibility and help unite the various housing corporations in their involvement with the housing estates," explained the initiator of the  "Initiative Welterbe – Siedlungen der Berliner Moderne" and head of corporate communications for Deutsche Wohnen AG, Bernhard S. Elias.

"We are all extremely fond of the housing estates. That is why be have founded the "Initiative Welterbe," says Hans-Jürgen Hermann, Chairman of Berliner Bau- und Wohnungsgenossenschaft von 1892 eG. "It is important for us to encourage public enthusiasm for the subjects of monument protection and World Heritage. We will also continue to pursue this aim after the decision has been taken."

The development of concepts for opening up the housing estates to tourism in cooperation with the University of Berlin, advising a delegation from The Yemen on the subject of marketing strategies for World Heritage properties, as well as informative events, festivities for residents or discussion panels are only some examples of the activities of the Initiative Welterbe. In addition, throughout the whole decision process, there has been intensive cooperation with the Regional Office for Monument Protection as well as other partners who are involved. “The fact that UNESCO’s decision has fallen in our favour is due, besides the unique nature of the estates and that fact that they help close a gap in the World Heritage list, to the broad range of support that the application had from all across Germany,” says Professor Dr. Jörg Haspel, Head of Conservation for the Berlin region. “I would especially like to thank the owners of the housing estates who have followed this course over the past ten years with much involvement.”

Initiative Welterbe – Siedlungen der Berliner Moderne

In order to accompany UNESCO’s decision procedure for the admission of the six Berlin Modernist housing estates, Deutsche Wohnen Group, Pirelli RE and the Berliner Bau- und Wohnungsgenossenschaft von 1892 eG founded the "Initiative Welterbe – Siedlungen der Berliner Moderne". Through this Initiative, the owners of Gartenstadt Falkenberg, Siedlung Schillerpark, Wohnstadt Carl Legien, Großsiedlung Siemensstadt, Hufeisensiedlung Britz and the Weißen Stadt wanted to create a focus for Berlin’s Cultural Heritage and awaken public interest in the subject.

You will find pictures in a printable format on our website: http://www.initiative-welterbe.de/

Contact
Annemarie Kophal
Initiative Welterbe – Siedlungen der Berliner Moderne
Tel. 030-81 46 46 00
http://www.initiative-welterbe.de/

To download this press release in PFF format (77 KB)
To download a flyer on Initiative Welterbe as PDF file (1.800 KB)
To download facts and figures regarding the Berlin Modernist housing estates as PDF file (311 KB)