Koolhaas-Haus am Checkpoint Charlie

The Koolhaas-Haus is a seven-story residential building with glass facades at Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. The structure combines 31 apartments with varying layouts (maisonettes and penthouses) alongside commercial spaces at street level.

The building was constructed between 1987 and 1990 as part of the International Building Exhibition Berlin, a program for urban renewal. The site was originally intended for border controls and customs operations before its transformation into modern housing.

The building shows how modern architecture brought housing and shops back to the city center after the war. The glass facades and mixed window types shape the street and create an open, transparent presence at this historic location.

The building sits directly at the former border crossing and is easily reached by public transport. The mix of housing and ground-floor shops makes it a lively location with various stops for visitors.

Renowned architect Rem Koolhaas withdrew from the project, after which Greek architect Ilias Zengelis developed the final design with Matthias Sauerbruch. This unexpected collaboration shaped the building's appearance and its place in the architectural history of reunified Berlin.

Location: Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

Architects: Rem Koolhaas, Office for Metropolitan Architecture

GPS coordinates: 52.50720,13.39020

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:43