As part of the Building Law course offered by the Faculty of Architecture and Design at Berlin International University, students recently took part in two immersive site visits that brought legal frameworks and architectural practice together in real-world settings. These excursions offered insight into how planning regulations, heritage protection, and sustainable urban strategies are applied in iconic Berlin redevelopment projects.
Tacheles – A Conversation with Herzog & de Meuron
At the historic Tacheles site, students were guided through the redevelopment project by Yasmin Kherad, Studio Director Germany at Herzog & de Meuron. Her on-site presentation illuminated the layered history of the location and the complexities of integrating new architectural visions within a protected and highly regulated urban area. Discussions included:
This visit provided an opportunity to see how large-scale projects navigate Berlin’s planning and permitting processes while maintaining design quality.
Atelier Gardens – Adaptive Reuse with MVRDV and Hirschmüller Schindele Architekten
The second excursion led students to Atelier Gardens, the transformation of the former BUFA film campus.
Verena Lindenmayer (Director, Berlin Office, MVRDV) and Markus Hirschmüller (Hirschmüller Schindele Architekten) offered a tour and discussion on sustainable redevelopment and zoning.
Key topics explored included:
These visits offered our students a unique opportunity to connect classroom theory with real-world challenges, gaining insight from leading professionals shaping Berlin’s evolving cityscape.
A big thank you to our lecturer Adel Bikulov for making this experience possible.
