LiMa – open monument day September 13, 2025
The LiMa Wohnhof Berlin – designed by Dutch architect Herman Hertzberger
“Herman Hertzberger (born 1932) taught architecture at the University of Geneva from 1982 to 1993, became an honorary member of the Association of German Architects in 1983, and was dean of the Berlage Institute in Amsterdam from 1990 to 1995. These transnational activities and recognition already demonstrate his importance within the architectural scene, which also made him interesting for the IBA 1987. The 1960s and 1970s were the heyday of participation, not only as a demand formulated in the political arena, but also actually implemented in architecture, for example by Hertzberger.
This participatory movement was triggered by Nicolaas John Habraken (1928-2023) with his 1961 book “The Supporters and the People.” What Habraken formulated theoretically was put into practice by Hertzberger, also here in Berlin-Kreuzberg: involving future residents in the planning process (read more: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._John_Habraken).
This participatory movement was triggered by Nicolaas John Habraken (1928-2023) with his 1961 book “The Carriers and the People.” What Habraken formulated theoretically was put into practice by Hertzberger, also here in Berlin-Kreuzberg: involving future residents in the planning process (read more: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._John_Habraken).
Originally, the IBA was planned as an exhibition of new buildings, whereby the then West Berlin CDU/FDP Senate not only wanted to use the rubble sites in the half-city created by World War II, but also planned and, in some cases, began extensive demolition of old buildings, destruction of the historic city layout, and thus a completely new urban development concept. It was only the vehement protests of urban planners and the occupation of houses by the urban community that led to the establishment of the so-called Altbau-IBA. Its mentor was Hardt-Walther Hämer (1922-2012), who was largely responsible for the “12 Principles of Urban Renewal” and for proving that renovating old buildings costs less than demolition and new construction (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardt-Waltherr_H%C3%A4mer). This insight, together with the conservation of resources, must be defended again today, for example by the Anti-Demolition Alliance (AAA).
The LiMa housing project, located between Lindenstrasse and Markgrafenstrasse in Kreuzberg, was created in 1984-86 in collaboration between Hertzberger, Berlin architects Inken and Hinrich Baller, and members of the Selbstbaugenossenschaft Berlin eG (Berlin Self-Build Cooperative), who built the 48 apartments themselves with social housing subsidies and also participated in the design of the courtyards, thereby reducing rents. “ Dr. Elisabeth Ziemer . Denk mal an Berlin e. V.
The tour of the LiMa Wohnhof will take place on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Meeting point: Markgrafenstraße 6
