With the formation of “Greater Berlin” in 1920, the city not only grew abruptly from 1.9 million to 3.8 million inhabitants, residential construction also accelerated in the following years up until 1940. It was also during this period that UNESCO World Heritage settlements such as Siemensstadt were built. The period from 1921 to 1940 thus differs slightly from other decades that saw less residential construction in the city. This is also true for the period from 1981 to 2000. During this period, new residential construction shifted towards the outskirts of the city, especially in the eastern part. The large housing estates in Marzahn and Hellersdorf were built there. After 1990, residential construction picked up in the eastern part, for example in Karow or Blankenburg.
This map provides you with an overview of housing construction, both in terms of space and quantity, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century. It focusses on flats only, as not all types of buildings in Berlin have complete and comprehensive records regarding their age.
The results of the EU-wide CENSUS form the main statistical base. It is a statistical survey which was launched in 2011 and is conducted every 10 years. It also involves a building and housing census, including a survey of the building age. The CENSUS also recorded buildings that are not completely residential, i.e. buildings with a predominant share of shops and offices. The survey criteria are very differentiated, for instance, rendering permanently inhabited houseboats and summer houses part of the total stock.
