BUWOG has been building the 52° Nord development in several construction phases for approximately ten years. The sponge city has now received the German Sustainable Building Council’s certificate in gold.
52° Nord is an innovative neighbourhood development in Berlin-Grünau in the Treptow-Köpenick district with approximately 1,000 one- to five-room rental apartments and condominiums. The development comprises residential space with accompanying sustainable amenities and infrastructure for residents and the surrounding area. These include a daycare centre, an energy centre, a waterfront promenade and a square within the development featuring a café, as well as accompanying commercial premises on the ground floor. Its own energy supply with a cogeneration plant is largely powered by renewable biomethane, ensuring that energy efficiency and climate protection are considered from the outset.
The striking 6,000 m² water basin is the sustainable heart of the 52° Nord development. It serves to retain rainwater: rainwater that falls on the rooftops of the surrounding residential buildings is fed into the basin, biologically purified by vegetation planted along the banks, and then returned to the natural water cycle through evaporation and infiltration.
The development has now been awarded the gold certificate by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The DGNB evaluation combines an assessment of economic quality, technical, socio-cultural and functional quality, and process quality in equal measure. Senior Auditor Thomas Kraubitz presented the certificate on behalf of the DGNB executive board. Thomas Kraubitz: “A consistent pursuit of sustainability in every construction phase, a fabulous location and a vibrant neighbourhood are what make this project distinctive and make it a model development in a complex environment.” Buro Happold was responsible for the development’s DGNB certification.
Daniel Riedl, member of the management board of Vonovia SE responsible, among other things, for BUWOG development in Germany: “52° Nord brings the abstract concept of sponge city to life and makes it visible. A former industrial brownfield is now a liveable place for people and nature, with architectural diversity and numerous ecological and social qualities. We are delighted to have been awarded the DGNB gold certificate and see this as an incentive for further BUWOG projects in Germany and Austria, where we are implementing sustainable qualities adapted to each location.”
The ten-hectare site in southeast Berlin, between the river Dahme and Regattastraße, was previously used for industrial purposes. Most recently, VEB Berlin-Chemie produced the “Pill of the East” here. The foundation stone for BUWOG’s new residential development was laid in 2015. Since then, several construction phases have already won architectural awards and been recognised for their sustainability. Among other things, three construction sites with a total of around 140 family apartments have been built in the development using sustainable hybrid construction methods, with a particular focus on the renewable raw material timber. In addition, BUWOG is a member of the COALITION for TIMBER CONSTRUCTION and will use timber in at least 20 percent of its development pipeline, which currently comprises around 55,000 apartments.
Now, approximately ten years since the foundation stone for the development was laid, the final construction phase is underway. The BUWOG DAHMEGLANZ project, currently under construction, comprises two residential buildings with a total of 52 condominiums and is located directly on the waterfront. The ensemble is situated next to the approximately 600-metre-long waterfront promenade, which was created by BUWOG as part of the development.
Click here for the film about the 52° Nord project.
Find out more about the BUWOG DAHMEGLANZ project at www.buwog-dahmeglanz.de
About BUWOG
BUWOG looks back on over 70 years of experience in the residential property business and currently has a development pipeline in Germany of approximately 55,000 residential units under construction and in planning. BUWOG won the ImmoAward 2025 as Developer of the Year. With its new construction projects and neighbourhood developments, BUWOG is creating new residential space throughout Germany and pursuing a committed sustainability agenda. BUWOG is a subsidiary of Vonovia SE, Europe’s leading residential company, which is located in Bochum (Germany).
