What is the model project Haus der Statistik?

After more than ten years of vacancy, the Haus der Statistik site in the immediate vicinity of Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte is being developed cooperatively and with a focus on the common good by five cooperation partners from civil society, politics and administration as a long-term affordable place to live and work. The 46,440 square meters of existing buildings from the 1970s are being renovated since 2019 and supplemented by 65,000 square meters of new construction in the coming years. As a result, the new neighborhood will include affordable housing, a new city hall for the Mitte district, space for Berlin's administration and rooms for art, culture, social affairs and education.

What uses are you looking for?

The spaces are geared toward uses from the program of the Haus der Statistik initiative. In 2015, this initiative initiated a turnaround in the development of the Haus der Statistik with its call for "affordable spaces for art, culture, social affairs."

The uses sought are in line with the vision of a collaborative neighborhood characterized by synergies of use and cooperative development. The Haus der Statistik quarter is to become a place that counteracts the precarious situation of inner-city cultural and social uses. Spaces are therefore to be allocated to uses that find no or very little space in the city, are threatened with displacement or have already been displaced. This includes various uses that are aimed at different target groups: Offers from the fields of politics, society & education, social affairs, culture and art, climate justice.

Who can apply?

Individuals, groups, collectives or institutions that:

• are coherent with the location and have an understanding of the model project House of Statistics
  
  
• contribute to the networking of socially relevant topics in a local and/or global context
  
  
• activate the neighborhood at different times of the day
  
  
• intend a use that fits the available space
  
  
• are threatened with displacement elsewhere in the city
  
  
• are underrepresented in Berlin-Mitte / have difficulty accessing space
  
  
• are financially self-supporting and capable of implementing the program from their application
  
  
• contribute to the diversity of the user community - by breaking down barriers, creating programs for specific communities, or by ensuring that the actors themselves are diverse in terms of origin, socio-economic background, age, and possible limitations.
  
  
• working beyond disciplinary boundaries
  
  
• are oriented towards the common good. By this we mean that solidarity, community and participation as fundamental values are reflected in their use 
  
  
• contribute to the networking of the community, the neighborhoods or the house

Not all applicants have to meet all of these criteria.

Important: Studios for individual artists are not yet allocated. It is not yet clear whether they will be allocated through the "Arbeitsraumprogramm" of the state of Berlin. This procedure has its own criteria. In the allocation procedure for studio spaces at the Haus der Statistik, these actors will therefore only be asked first about their needs / spatial requirements.

How can I apply?

The application process is completely digital. If you want to apply for a room, fill out the form (LINK).

If you have any questions about the application process, you can contact us by mail (vergabe@hausderstatistik.org).

Information about the application and the application procedure in plain language can be found here.

The application can also be submitted as a sign language video or audio file. In this case, please send it by mail to vergabe@hausderstatistik.org.

People who cannot use a keyboard or a pen, as well as visually impaired people or people with other disabilities, are welcome to contact us. We will be happy to assist you personally with your application in these cases.
 

Will I receive confirmation that my application has been received?

Yes, once your application has been completed, you will automatically receive a confirmation by e-mail.

How long does the procedure take?

The award procedure for Haus A is multi-stage and is expected to be completed by July 2023.

Who decides?

After the application deadline, a first award meeting will be held in April. The independent award panel will make a recommendation as to who will be awarded the space. The committee consists of a representative of Koop5, external experts from the fields of art/culture, social affairs, diversity, neighborhood, education, climate justice, as well as representatives of the pioneer uses at the Haus der Statistik.

How will I be informed about the decision?

After the panel meetings, all applicants will be notified of the decision via email.

I have received a rejection, what now?

If your application was unsuccessful, you can participate again in the next allocation of space at the Haus der Statistik. Spaces on the first floor, as well as in the planned new buildings (experimental houses X1, X2 and X3) will be allocated gradually from the end of this year.

I have received an acceptance. What happens now?

The first selection round is not yet a final commitment for the space. When you are accepted for the next round, you will have to pay a so-called qualifying amount. As soon as this amount is transferred, you are part of the next phase: This includes several meetings with the selected users in small groups. Here, open questions are clarified and the financing of the rooms is discussed. Subsequently, it will be asked who is still interested in renting a room at the Haus der Statistik. The committee then selects the final users from these interested parties. They will become members of AndersMachen eG, a cooperative that will be founded in the summer of 2023 and will be responsible for the subsequent operation of the building.

Which areas are involved?

The current award procedure (starting in 2023) allocates space from the utilization program of the Haus der Statistik initiative. The focus is on socio-cultural commercial space in the existing buildings and in the new buildings currently being planned. In phase 1 of the award procedure, rooms in "House A" (socioculture) are awarded. The other spaces (first floor spaces, as well as in the experimental houses "X1" (Sustainable Business) and "X2" (Social Learning) and "X3: Inclusive Living" will be awarded gradually from the end of 2023 until 2025).

How can I apply for an apartment?

The experimental high-rise residential building "X3" (Inclusive Living and Healthy Future) is the last new building to be realized from the Haus der Statistik initiative program. Completion is currently scheduled for 2027, so the award procedure will not start until a later date (most likely 2025). If interested, we recommend following the current channels of the Haus der Statistik model project and staying informed via website, newsletter and social media. The areas for social housing of the WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH are allocated through own procedures of the state-owned housing company. More information about WBM can be found at https://www.wbm.de/wohnungen-berlin/angebote-wbm/.

When will the spaces be ready? When can we move in/use them?

The areas of the Haus der Statistik initiative will be planned step by step in the coming years and successively renovated. The first step will be Haus A, where the renovation of the existing space by BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH has already begun in 2022. The shell of the building is to be handed over in mid-2024. Then the user-led fit-out of the spaces will begin (plumbing, flooring, interior walls, etc.). The rooms are expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of 2025.

The spaces in the two experimental buildings X1 and X2, with a focus on socio-culture and commerce, will gradually be ready for occupancy in 2026-2027. In addition, there are still selected first floor spaces in the existing buildings A-D that will be gradually occupied in 2025-2031 in all building blocks in the neighborhood from the utilization program of the initiative Haus der Statistik.

What does self-made construction mean?

The non-profit developer AndersBauen gGmbH, which was founded during the process, is scheduled to receive the shell of the spaces from BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH in mid-2024. The areas are then to be prepared in close coordination with the future users and with the inclusion of personal contributions / self-construction. From co-planning to co-construction, future users can take on a variety of roles in the process. It is also possible to move into finished rooms without any construction work. 

How many spaces and what kind of rooms will there be?

In all building blocks of the Haus der Statistik initiative, there will be individual rooms, as well as common and optional rooms in various room sizes (S-XL). Common rooms are, for example, meeting rooms, kitchens and sanitary rooms that are shared by several users on the same floor or in the same building. Option spaces are not permanently assigned to one user:in, but remain accessible for temporary external uses such as exhibitions, meetings, performances, or educational programs. Collectives/groups may also apply to operate an option space.



Haus A

• Area: 8.400 m² 
• Foor: Ground floor + 10 (of which 6 upper floors for the initiative Haus der Statistik (and 4 upper floors for BIM used as administrative space and therefore not part of this award) plus one public roof terrace
• public use, commercial space and socio-cultural space 
• individual Space, community Spaces and option rooms
• Renovation and Self-made construction
• Completion: 2025

Experimental Houses X1/X2/X3

In three structures with five and eleven floors we are building so-called experimental houses with a focus on commercial and residential use::

• Area: X1 and X2: 1,700 m2 gross floor area m2 each; X3: 8,100 m2 gross floor area
• Floors: X1 and X2 each with 5 upper floors (+EG) and X3 with 11 upper floors (+EG).
• commercial and cultural (X1/X2), and commercial and residential (X3)
• single rooms, common rooms and option rooms
• New construction + self-expansion
• Completion: 2026-2027 

Curated Ground Floors 

• Area: approx. 3000 m2 in the whole quarter in Haus A, Haus B-D as well as in the new buildings
• Floors: ground floor
• Commercial and sociocultural
• Individual spaces, common spaces and option spaces
• Renovation of existing buildings, new construction + self-construction
• Completion: 2025-2031

Which areas are shared?

All circulation areas (corridors, stairs, elevators) as well as the infrastructure in the building with sanitary rooms, (tea) kitchens and meeting/workshop rooms. In addition, all designated common and option spaces are generally shared and/or operated.

In what condition will the spaces be handed over to the users?

The condition of the rooms can vary depending on the building block and requirements and will be defined in the further process between AndersBauen gGmbH and the future users. For orientation: the lowest standard will be a shell without installation work in the sanitary area (bathroom, kitchen, heating) and without interior walls/room partitioning, the medium standard will be with drawn-in interior walls/room partitioning and completed sanitary and electrical installations (water, kitchen, heating) and the highest standard will be with move-in ready with all drywall work, sanitary and electrical installations as well as with built-in furniture such as kitchen units, built-in cabinets, etc.

Is it possible to do it myself? Can I save costs with it?

Self-construction is possible, depending on when you enter in the process or become a user:in the rooms, as the rooms are self-developed especially in the first years. Experience has shown that this can save costs if you have the necessary expertise.

What are the principles and criteria for the allocation of rooms at the Haus der Statistik?

The allocation criteria are derived from the mission statement of pioneer uses, which has been the curatorial basis for awarding temporary spaces at the Haus der Statistik since 2019. The criteria were sharpened by the neighborhood committee at Haus der Statistik with the participation of external experts and supplemented with aspects of climate justice. The principles of the award are: Context / Place Relevance, Urgency, Feasibility, Diversity, Common Good Orientation, Cooperative Working, Local Engagement, and Open Offerings (to third parties). Details can be found above under the download link!

How much time is expected of me? Is it realistic to participate in the process alongside a full-time job and/or care work?

The allocation process will occur in several phases. An initial selection of user:s for space in House A should be completed by summer 2023. There will be approximately 3-4 meetings during this phase.

Once you/your organization is selected, there will be a series of meetings between now and the eventual commissioning of the spaces where the eventual user:ins will get to know each other and organize as houses/floors. In addition to internal organization, these meetings will also address issues of funding and (self-)development.

We try to schedule the meetings in such a way that as many people as possible can participate, i.e. to take into account core times of both wage and care work, but also free time on weekends. Where possible, we also offer hybrid or online formats. Depending on the topic, certain tasks can also be completed on individually available time. 

When do I join one of the operating cooperatives?

The establishment of the operating cooperatives is planned for summer/fall 2023.

What happens to my data?

All data will be used exclusively for the work of ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG. In case of a successful application, we will forward your personal data to the operating cooperatives (AndersBauen gGmbH, AndersMachen eG, AndersWohnen eG) that were founded as a result of the process.

Otherwise, we do not pass on any data to third parties without your express consent. We reserve the right to evaluate anonymized data for statistical purposes. You have the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. Your personal data will be deleted automatically. Detailed information can be found in our privacy policy.

How does AndersBauen gGmbH obtain the plots and rental spaces?

AndersBauen gGmbH was founded by ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG in November 2022 as a non-profit developer. The foundation took place within the framework of the cooperative neighborhood development between politics, administration and civil society at the Haus der Statistik. The non-profit developer is to receive heritable building rights for the three building plots of the experimental houses in direct award from the state of Berlin. The heritable building rights will prevent speculation with the properties in the long term and thus secure their use and affordability. For the spaces in House A as well as the curated first floors, AndersBauen gGmbH is to receive long-term commercial leases, with a rental period of 30 years.

What is a heritable building right?

With a heritable building right, ownership of the land and the building are separated. The ground lease owner owns the land, and the ground lease holder owns the buildings.

The heritable building right is a right equal to ownership with all the associated rights and obligations of managing a plot of land. With the heritable building right contract, the state of Berlin, as the owner of the land, hands over a plot of land to AndersBauen gGmbH, as the holder of the heritable building right, for a long binding period - usually 99 years.

The heritable building right puts AndersBauen gGmbH in a position of equal ownership for the entire period. It is responsible for all aspects of the financing and development of the buildings; the only thing it cannot do is sell the land.

In return, AndersBauen gGmbH pays the state of Berlin an annual ground rent. The ground rent is calculated on the land value and is freely negotiable. The ground rent can also be linked to the management of the land and amount to a certain percentage of the income. To support public welfare-oriented uses without private profit increases, this can be granted at a correspondingly low rate.

The advantage for the project is that it requires significantly less equity at the outset than a land purchase. The advantage for the land owner is the long-term ground rent and permanent control over the use of a plot of land. In the ground lease, objectives for the type of use, the content of the management or the construction activities can be contractually stipulated. These objectives apply for the duration of the ground lease and are therefore an essential design element of the contract.

This makes this instrument particularly interesting for municipalities such as Berlin with high land value increases: they can transfer the ground rent to the urban community and at the same time withdraw land from a speculative revaluation spiral and maintain or expand the conditions for democratically controllable land policy

Why are there only heritable building rights for the building plots in the new building?

In the course of the project development, a heritable building right and even a sub-heritable building right on partial areas in the existing buildings were examined. Legally, this would have been possible, but this option was rejected by the state of Berlin due to its complexity and instead long-term commercial leases were offered for the spaces in House A and the curated first floors.

How is AndersBauen gGmbH financing the project development?

AndersBauen gGmbH was founded by ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG and provided by it with a founding capital of € 25,000. However, the project development is dependent on further start-up financing by the applicants. The initial contributions, which are due after the first phase of the application, serve to support the development of the process. As soon as the lease agreement or the heritable building rights have been secured by means of anhandhabe - a kind of preliminary contract - AndersBauen gGmbH can take up external financing in the form of bank loans and/or construction subsidies.

How are the two cooperatives, AndersMachen eG and AndersWohnen eG, related to AndersBauen gGmbH?

ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG commissioned a carrier model for the future organization of the Haus der Statistik neighborhood as part of a requirements planning process on behalf of the Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing. As a result, a so-called Public Civic Partnership was developed. On the one hand, the model enables long-term security of the properties through shared guardian functions in committees and, on the other hand, a high degree of self-administration at the user:inside level.

The AndersBauen gGmbH was subsequently founded by ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG as the first building block of the sponsor model. In the further course, two cooperatives will be founded for the later operation: AndersWohnen eG for residential uses, AndersMachen eG for commercial and socio-cultural spaces. This division into two cooperatives has tax reasons, as the renting of an apartment is taxed differently than that of a studio or commercial space. Both cooperatives will join AndersBauen gGmbH as shareholders in the course of 2023 and thus take over shares of ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG. ZUsammenKUNFT Berlin eG as the legal representative of the initiative Haus der Statistik can thus gradually withdraw from the project and hand over responsibility to the future users.

The members of both cooperatives become the later users, so that they indirectly have a lot of say in the developer AndersBauen gGmbH. In addition to the so-called ordinary members, i.e. the users of the areas, both cooperatives can also have investing, so-called "silent members". These subscribe to voluntary shares in one of the two cooperatives in order to support the project ideally. As a silent member, one has no voting rights and no claim to areas in the Haus der Statistik project.

What are the tasks of AndersBauen gGmbH, and what are the tasks of the two cooperatives?

AndersBauen gGmbH is the developer, i.e. it takes care of the financing and the organization of the further planning and construction of the building blocks of the initiative. The two cooperatives organize the operation, i.e. they conclude sublease agreements and take care of the programming of the place.

How is AndersBauen gGmbH remunerated for its tasks?

AndersBauen gGmbH makes advance payments for its project development work. Only when it has received the heritable building rights and rental contracts as the developer, are the services paid for as part of the investment costs of the building project.

When do I become a member of one of the two cooperatives?

There are two ways:

1. You become an investing member. This means that you have no voting rights at the general assembly and no right to a plot, but you support the project ideally and financially in its process of becoming and provide the cooperatives with initial equity. 

2. You will wait until the heritable building rights have been awarded to AndersBauen gGmbH and will only join AndersMachen eG or AndersWohnen eG after your successful application. For this, a previous candidacy is a prerequisite.

What opportunities do I have to participate during the planning process?

Since the beginning of the development of the House of Statistics, there have been various formats of participation. All interested future users and residents will also be involved in the further planning of the buildings.

In addition to asking for preferences regarding apartments and uses for the common areas, participatory formats are organized in the planning process. These include thematic workshops in which, for example, questions about the type and design of community facilities, the organization of self-management and possibilities for personal contribution are worked out. We publish the current dates via our newsletter, website and social media.

What costs should I expect?

Important: Negotiations with BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH and the Senate Department of Finance regarding the terms of the general lease for House A have not yet been concluded. Therefore, the awarding of the contract is still conditional and the future rents and the required equity cannot yet be conclusively stated.

Funding Haus A:

The financing of the expansion costs is made up of approx. 20% equity, approx. 50% construction subsidies and 30% borrowed capital. According to current calculations, a total of approx. 9 million euros will be required to bring the space into a rentable condition. The currently calculated equity requirement per m2 of usable space is approx. 211€.

Cost Rent Haus A:

The amount of the cost rent depends on the one hand on the intended use and on the other hand on the financial possibilities of the future users. According to current plans, the gross warm rent ranges between 8.00€ and 14.00€. We are aiming for an affordable cultural rent of ø 7,50€, but this is still under negotiation with the state of Berlin.

How much equity do I have to raise in the form of cooperative shares?

The equity capital to be raised depends on the size of the required area and is calculated in €/m2 usable area. According to current profitability calculations (as of 15.02.2023), the equity capital shares are as follows:

Haus A 211€ per m2 usable area

Experimental building X1 574 € per m2 of usable floor space

Experimental building X2 586 € per m2 of usable floor space

Experimental building X3 588 € per m2 of floor space

When is the payment of the cooperative shares due?

As a rule, the first payment into the cooperative is due during the pre-planning phase of the project to reserve a room / apartment. After signing the leasehold contract or long-term lease agreements, each member then purchases cooperative shares corresponding to the desired room/apartment size.

How can I finance my cooperative shares without the necessary equity capital?

Approximately 80% of the financing for construction projects is provided by grants and loans, and approximately 20% is provided by the cooperatives' own capital, which is made up of their members' shares.

Those who do not have the necessary equity capital to acquire the corresponding shares can finance them through a loan. The state-owned Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau offers the KfW Program 134, which is expressly designed for the acquisition of cooperative shares.

The loan has a term of up to 35 years, at a relatively low interest rate, and a repayment subsidy is also granted. You can find out the respective conditions from your local bank and from KfW.

When do I have to become involved in the process? From when do I have to participate financially?

After selection by the first panel meeting, all applicants selected then subscribe to a candidacy in order to participate in the next phase of the process.

With a candidacy, no obligations or financial risks are entered into, but also no binding claims to rooms are acquired.

Only after the final selection by the committee (summer 2023), the applicants will be asked to contribute equity to reserve the rooms.

We do not want the qualifying contribution to be too high an entry hurdle. Therefore there are three levels

• Regular contribution 200 EUR
  
  
• Support contribution 400 EUR
  
  
• Reduced contribution 85 EUR
  

*We will find a solution if even the reduced contribution is not feasible for you.

What are the costs for this qualifying period? What is my money used for?

The qualification fee is a one-time payment that contributes to the basic financing of the work of the non-profit developer. It covers the costs of support, advice and organization of interested parties, public relations and the maintenance and administration of the company. It is therefore not refundable in the event of withdrawal from the process or unsuccessful application in the further award.

Will I receive a room/apartment for the entitlement amount?

The entitlement does not result in a legal claim to a room or apartment. However, it is a prerequisite for the further application process and thus the subsequent use of a room. The contract of use for the room is concluded with AndersMachen eG (for commercial and socio-cultural rooms) or AndersWohnen eG (for apartments).

If I withdraw from the process, will I get my money back?

You can withdraw at any time. We can not pay back the initial amount, but if you have become an investing member of one of the two cooperatives, you will get your shares back, subject to the relevant notice periods.

How reliable is the financing planning for a construction project?

Construction projects are very complex. It usually takes several years from planning to completion, many different players are involved in the project, countless details have to be considered, and general conditions can change unexpectedly. The costs for a project can therefore only be roughly estimated at the beginning and supplemented by reserves. As planning progresses, planning reliability is gradually gained and costs can be calculated more precisely.

How can the project be additionally supported financially?

Why is the company organized as a cooperative?

A cooperative is a form of business like a limited liability company or a joint stock company, but with some significant differences.

In a cooperative, no member owns individual property with private exploitation rights; instead, the cooperative members own the entire property of their cooperative jointly. The cooperative guarantees democratic co-determination and a permanent right of use. We think this is a good thing and that cooperatives are therefore the most suitable legal form for securing the long-term future of the Haus der Statistik model project and the initiative's building blocks, and for shaping them in a way that is oriented toward the common good.

What are the goals of the cooperative?

Cooperatives have a long tradition as voluntary associations of people for the purpose of supporting their members. The basic principles of the cooperative system are laid down in the Cooperatives Act. In addition, each cooperative has its own articles of association, in which the members define the objective, funding mandate, rights and obligations, organizational structure, allocation guidelines and conditions of membership.

AndersMachen eG and AndersWohnen eG pursue the goal of permanently providing their members with good, affordable and safe rooms / apartments. Profits are invested in long-term security, maintenance and care or also in the expansion of further rooms.

How are cooperatives organized?

A member of a cooperative is someone who owns at least one cooperative share. Since cooperatives must be organized democratically by law, each cooperative member usually has one vote, no matter how many shares in the cooperative he or she owns. Unlike stock corporations, where voting shares are based on the number of shares subscribed, more individual influence cannot necessarily be bought in cooperatives.

As members, the members jointly determine the fate of their cooperative. They exercise their voting rights at the general meeting, which takes place at least once a year. The general meeting is the most important body of the cooperatives because it votes on the principles of business policy and elects a supervisory board from among its members. The supervisory board, in turn, appoints a board of directors, which manages, advises and controls the cooperative's business. Each member of a cooperative has an active and a passive right to vote, which means that he or she can also apply for a position on the Supervisory Board.

What are cooperative shares?

The sum of the cooperative shares, together with its reserves, forms the equity capital of a cooperative and thus the basis of its business. For a newly founded cooperative that wants to build its first house, this means that the members' shares, together with subsidized loans and bank loans, finance the planning and construction of the house before loans can be repaid through rental income and reserves can be built up for maintenance and administrative purposes.

Cooperative shares that you have subscribed to in order to finance a housing project are not a 'lost' investment, but a component of your asset accumulation. This means that if you give up the use of your space in the Quartier Haus der Statistik, move out of an apartment or leave the cooperative, you will receive all shares back at nominal value.

How is the use of an apartment / (commercial) space regulated?

If you use a room of the cooperative as a member, you conclude a usage contract with the cooperative. This contract of use is similar in content to a rental contract, i.e. all rights and obligations of the user with regard to the use of the room, repairs, ancillary costs, etc. are specified there. The decisive advantage over other rental models: The right to use an apartment in a cooperative is in principle non-cancelable and is valid for life. Contracts with a term of 2, 5 and 10 years are concluded for commercial properties.

A monthly usage fee (the 'rent') is agreed in the usage contract. Because cooperatives are not concerned with making the highest possible profits, cooperative apartments are generally less expensive than comparable apartments on the private housing market. The user fee is calculated according to the principle of 'cost rent': It refinances operating and maintenance costs and, in addition, only serves to build up necessary reserves.

Does the user fee decrease when the loans are paid off?

The user fee is calculated in such a way that reserves are built up, because maintenance costs generally increase as a building ages. Once all loans are paid off and reserves are built up, the cooperative members decide whether they want to use surpluses to reduce the user fee.

What are the utility costs?

The goal is low utility costs. We design our building blocks with low energy consumption and simple technology with low maintenance costs.

Will I get money back if I move out again?

Yes, if you move out of your room, the cooperative will refund your shares at face value. Details are regulated in the respective statutes of the cooperative. The entrance fee to the cooperative is not refundable.

How is inheritance regulated?

Cooperative shares do not pass to heirs. The shares of the deceased member are paid out by the cooperative to the heirs.

Can I leave the cooperative?

As a rule, a member leaves the cooperative by transferring his or her shares to another member. This is possible at any time.

Otherwise, a member can leave the cooperative at the end of the calendar year. However, not within the first five years after the establishment of the cooperative. The formalities are specified in detail in the statutes of AndersMachen eG and AndersWohnen eG.