The real estate developer Livory has successfully laid the foundation stone for its residential project at Schonensche Straße 27–28 in Berlin’s Pankow district, marking an important milestone. A total of 140 modern rental apartments are being built on the approximately 2,600-square-metre site. Completion is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.
Following the demolition of the workshop building previously located on the site and the excavation of the construction pit, the project has now entered the structural construction phase. Livory is transforming the former commercial site into a modern residential development, creating much-needed new rental housing in an established Berlin neighbourhood.
Cornelius Bechtler, Pankow District Councillor for Urban Development and Citizens’ Services, Justin Schrobsdorff, Member of the Executive Board of Schrobsdorff Bau AG, and other project stakeholders attended the foundation stone ceremony.
“Berlin urgently needs more private investment in the housing market. On a site previously used for commercial purposes, the Livory Group is creating 140 new apartments on Schonensche Straße, with a particular focus on sustainability. I very much welcome the fact that the project is being constructed using a timber-hybrid building method, with a fully fossil-free heating system based on air-source heat pumps and a photovoltaic system, extensive green roof areas and complete on-site rainwater infiltration. The heatwaves this summer are making it all too clear how important comprehensive climate protection—and therefore sustainable construction—is,” says Cornelius Bechtler, Pankow District Councillor for Urban Development and Citizens’ Services.
“The project on Schonensche Straße is a prime example of how commercial sites that are no longer fit for purpose can be sustainably transformed into modern residential locations,” says Manuel Al Hamwi, Head of Development at Livory. “With construction now underway, we have reached an important milestone and are consistently implementing our plans for a future-oriented, high-quality residential development.”
“We are delighted to support Livory as a reliable construction partner in implementing its vision for this site. Our shared goal is to deliver the project as partners, to a high standard of quality and on schedule,” says Justin Schrobsdorff, Member of the Executive Board of Schrobsdorff Bau AG.
The project comprises approximately 7,250 square metres of residential space. Plans include a seven-storey building at the front of the site, including a ground floor, as well as a complementary three-storey garden building. The range of apartments extends from compact one-bedroom units for singles to two- and three-room apartments for couples and young families. The units have an average size of around 50 square metres. Approximately 75 percent of the apartments will be efficiently designed two-room units. Balconies and terraces, partially green façades and spacious garden areas are intended to create a high quality of life. The project thus combines efficient use of space with attractive private and communal outdoor areas.
The buildings will be constructed to the Efficiency House 40 standard. In addition, DGNB Gold certification is being targeted. The planning also takes into account the requirements of the EU Taxonomy in the area of climate change adaptation. The buildings will be heated entirely without fossil fuels using air-source heat pumps. Photovoltaic systems, green roofs and a decentralised ventilation system with heat recovery are also planned. Rainwater will be collected and managed through a retention system and used, among other purposes, to irrigate the garden areas. Hybrid exterior walls will also contribute to a resource-efficient and energy-efficient building envelope.
The project is located in an established residential neighbourhood in Pankow, in close proximity to Prenzlauer Berg. Shops, restaurants and medical services are all located nearby.
The development also benefits from excellent public transport connections. The Stahlheimer Straße/Wisbyer Straße tram stop, Vinetastraße underground station and Schönhauser Allee S-Bahn and underground station can all be reached within a few minutes. The B96a and B109 federal roads, as well as the A114 motorway, also provide good connections to Berlin city centre and the surrounding area.