Berlin’s Climate Island green oasis makes way for housing development

A thriving green space for families and wildlife is fading into memory. What’s next for the land where kids played and nature flourished?

, and Administrator

2025 November 29 . 4:02 AM

1 min read

This is the picture of a place where we have some houses, buildings, plants, trees and some grass... — This is the picture of a place where we have some houses, buildings, plants, trees and some grass on the floor.

Berlin’s Climate Island green oasis makes way for housing development

A temporary urban nature project called Climate Island has come to an end in early October. The initiative transformed abandoned allotment gardens into a shared green space for community activities, including kids activities. Now, the site faces redevelopment as Berlinovo, a state-owned housing company, prepares to build a large residential block.

For months, the Climate Island hosted a mix of public engagement and ecological work. Volunteers tended 13 garden plots, though some areas stayed closed due to wildlife. Others remained open for visitors, while a few sections had dedicated patrons. Activities ranged from insect surveys to historical research on the nearby Prinzregentenstraße synagogue. Discussions and plenary sessions took place in a repurposed shed, once part of the Kindl-Baude beer garden, now nicknamed the town hall garden.

The site’s transformation from a community green space to a housing development marks a shift in its purpose. Berlinovo’s plans include 270 new homes, a kindergarten, and accessible design features. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, pending approval of the building application.