The decision was in our favour – since July 7th 2008 six Berlin housing estates constructed in the 1920s are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. With the decision taken by UNESCO in Quebec, Canada, the Hufeisensiedlung Britz, Gartenstadt Falkenberg, Weiße Stadt, Großsiedlung Siemensstadt, Wohnstadt Carl Legien and Siedlung Schillerpark all belong to Germany’s 33 World Heritage sites and from now on will enjoy special protection as „Cultural Sites worthy of permanent preservation.“

In order to accompany this UNESCO decision process we, Deutsche Wohnen Group, Pirelli RE and the Berliner Bau- und Wohnungsgenossenschaft von 1892 eG, founded the "Initiative Welterbe - Siedlungen der Berliner Moderne" (World Heritage Initiative – Berlin Modernist housing estates). The Initiative has been tackling both contemporary as historic themes related to the six Berlin Housing Estates in a multi-faceted program.

Together, we wanted to focus public awareness of this subject and win further partners from the political, social and business sectors.