The Helmholtzkiez at a glance

To look at the history of the neighborhood, it is helpful to look at the historical development of the district to which it belongs. It used to be an independent district, but after the administrative reform it was merged with Pankow and Weißensee to form the district of Pankow. After reunification, it was initially regarded as a trendy district before becoming a popular home for many families. Most of the houses you see here are old buildings from the Wilhelminian era. As the district suffered little destruction during the Second World War, there are still many well-preserved properties from before 1948. The Kiez is one of the district’s most popular neighborhoods.

The district was declared a redevelopment area in 1993 and underwent one of the largest redevelopment projects in Europe, which, for financial reasons, did not begin until five years later, in 1998. Some of the planning involved disputes between residents and those responsible. The squatter scene, which was active at the time, also played a central role in this, resisting the measures with various actions. But residents and homeowners were also not convinced by the project and feared price increases. Nevertheless, progress could not be stopped: The modernization measures continued and were finally completed in 2015.

Over the years, extensive redevelopment has turned the neighborhood into an attractive residential area with an appealing Wilhelminian ambience. The former trendy neighborhood has become a popular residential area for well-off academic families. The neighborhood is also known as the LSD district – a nickname it owes to the streets Lychenerstrasse, Schliemannstrasse and Dunckerstrasse, which run from north to south. The central Helmholtzplatz has a park-like atmosphere and functions both as a recreational area and social meeting point for residents and visitors to the neighborhood. Thanks to extensive redevelopment measures, the quarter is now one of the most beautiful and liveable areas in the entire district. Anyone looking for a lively, urban flair with just the right amount of creativity has found their dream home in the Kiez. There is also an excellent range of local amenities, including many supermarkets and organic markets and a gastronomic offering that is second to none. In addition, the neighborhood scores points for its excellent childcare density with many daycare centers, kindergartens and schools and many opportunities for leisure activities for people with children.

In the south of the popular district, you will mainly find the well-known trendy neighborhoods with many entertainment districts, cafés, bars, restaurants, stores and galleries. The north-west, on the other hand, is more family-friendly with a quiet atmosphere and lots of childcare facilities. The southern neighborhoods with a lively scene culture include the Bötzowviertel, the Winsviertel, the Kollwitzkiez and the Rosenthaler Vorstadt. There are trendy bars, coffee shops and numerous restaurants and cafés to visit. The Bötzowviertel is also home to the Filmtheater am Friedrichshain and the site of the famous Schneider brewery.

The family neighborhoods in the northwest of the district include the Gleimviertel, the Nordisches Viertel and Humannplatz. The districts are characterized by a high density of daycare centers, and the renovated old buildings are flanked by plenty of greenery. There are fewer traditional places to go out and store here, but a large number of cycle paths, ice cream parlors and other child-friendly leisure activities. In the east of the district, there are also mainly housing estates, for example the large Michelangenostraße estate, the flower quarter with its detached houses and the Alter Schlachthof district, where apartments for 4,500 people have been created in the form of modern terraced houses, lofts, townhouses and urban villas.

The most famous sights you can visit in the district include the Gethsemane Church, the Pappelallee cemetery park, the Elias Church and the so-called Göhrener Ei, a listed ensemble of buildings on Göhrener Straße. It owes its name to the elongated, semicircular shape in which the buildings are arranged. Art and culture lovers regularly flock to Ballhaus Ost, a production and performance venue where independent theater and art projects are presented. More than a hundred productions can be admired here every year, featuring both nationally and internationally renowned artists as well as undiscovered talents. The nightlife in the district is also impressive, as there are various pubs, cafés and restaurants in Helmholtzkiez that invite you to discover the district from a culinary perspective. A large number of fast food outlets and snack bars have set up shop around the Kulturbrauerei. Whether Korean, Mexican, vegan, Italian or Indian – all tastes are guaranteed to be catered for here.

On pleasant summer evenings, the central park is also a great place to spend time with a cool drink in your hand, watching the hustle and bustle and taking in the harmonious ambience of the neighborhood. Everyone comes together here: Families, young people, neighborhood visitors and long-time residents. Flea markets are also held regularly around the square. The children’s flea market in particular, which is held on nine Sundays a year, regularly attracts many mothers and fathers from the entire district and beyond, who come here to rummage and dawdle while their children let off steam in the nearby playground or visit the children’s café Spielzimmer. The MACHmit! museum, which is located in the former Elias Church, is also popular with young and old alike. Children aged three to twelve can play, learn and do crafts to their heart’s content, and there are also changing exhibitions, workshops and puppet theater performances.

Wer eine Eigentumswohnung im Helmholtzkiez erwerben möchte, sollte für eine Zweizimmerwohnung im Gründerzeitquartier höhere Preise als in der übrigen Hauptstadt kalkulieren. Diese liegen beispielsweise für eine Wohnung mit einer Fläche von etwa 60 m² zwischen 400.000 und 600.000 €. Auch die Mietpreise befinden sich, wie im gesamten Ortsteil, auf einem vergleichsweise hohen Niveau. So liegen die Mieten für eine Wohnung mit einer Fläche von 60 bis 80 m² bei 14 € je Quadratmeter, bei 80 bis 100 m² beträgt die durchschnittliche Kaltmiete 10 € pro Quadratmeter, während sie bei Wohnungen mit einer Fläche zwischen 100 und 120 m² bereits auf 20,50 € für den Quadratmeter steigt. Wer bereit ist, dies zu zahlen, wird dafür mit einem Lebensumfeld belohnt, dass die besten Eigenschaften Berlins vereint. Die Lebensqualität im Kiez gilt als außerordentlich hoch, denn es wird einiges geboten. Bekannt ist das Viertel vor allem für seine Familienfreundlichkeit. Unzählige Spielplätze, Freizeitangebote für Jung und Alt sowie eine hohe Dichte an Kitas, Kindergärten und Schulen sorgen dafür, dass sich junge Paare mit Kindern gern hier niederlassen.

The neighborhood also offers an appealing cityscape, as the renovated old buildings with their Wilhelminian-style facades are a sight to behold. Parks, recreational areas and the many restaurants do the rest. The crime rate in the neighborhood is low – a factor that also ensures that families feel at home here. In general, many young people live here and the proportion of residents aged between 20 and 45 is above average compared to the rest of the capital. Young couples and singles appreciate the wide range of evening activities on offer, while families enjoy the quiet atmosphere and the attractive green spaces and play areas in the neighborhood. When you buy a condominium, you are also purchasing a property that is in high demand on the local market and is not expected to fall in the near future. One- and two-bedroom apartments in particular are in high demand due to the age structure in the area. Buying a property here is therefore a sensible choice not only for owner-occupiers, but also for potential landlords.

The social structure of the neighborhood, as in the entire district, has been in a state of upheaval for several years. Whereas it used to be home to the so-called alternative scene, nowadays it is increasingly higher income groups, often with an academic education, who are settling here. The neighborhood has undergone a major upgrade, especially in recent years. New playgrounds have been built and old ones renovated, and the neighborhood offers a harmonious cityscape thanks to the predominance of old buildings and Wilhelminian-style facades. As the Wilhelminian-style buildings here have all been renovated, the quality of living is high. There is also a lively atmosphere with plenty of restaurants, trendy stores and numerous art and cultural events. Although housing prices in the neighborhood are certainly higher than the already high prices for renting and buying property in Berlin, the district also offers a harmonious home that leaves little to be desired.