It is a gem dating back to Imperial Germany, and an asset to Berlin as architectural landmark: Riehmers Hofgarten. At the time, Wilhelm Riehmer let his courage and visionary zeal as builder inspire him to bypass urban planning standards in favour of upscale liveability. Instead of pursuing a dense development of tenements grouped around tiny courtyards, the master builder created a lavish ensemble on his plot in 1891/1892. With attention to detail and the diligence of a heritage curator, the splendid heritage site has now been largely restored. It positively beams with its regained historic glamour. The patrician façades shine with bright structures while the staircases are dominated by warm earthy colours. The entrance doors to houses and flats, windows and stair railings were overhauled true to their original historic design. Partially uncovered frescoes on the mezzanine levels illustrate the artful aesthetics of a bygone era. To meet sophisticated expectations, modern-day quality was seamlessly integrated. The lighting system as well as the bell and video intercom system complete the authentic design by adding upscale state-of-the-art technology. Water supply lines and waste water pipes were replaced, while heating and electrical installations were upgraded or replaced. The eleven entranceways are named after scions of the Hohenzollern dynasty. The entranceway "Elisabeth" at Grossbeerenstrasse 56 E lets you reach this flat on the second floor via stairs. With its three bedrooms on about 100 square metres, it will enchant anyone who appreciates upgraded period buildings. As a community, the residents of this housing complex have the use of the attractive courtyard garden whose groomed trails, picnic lawns, boule court and playground offer various options for hanging out and comparing notes. Other amenities include access to the roofed-over buggy and bicycle park, and access to the underground car park via the courtyard garden.

In global city rankings, Berlin has been among the top ten for years. Complex cultural events, an engaging way of life, and a unique history have earned the metropolis its global renown. It motivates millions of visitors every year to come to Berlin to see for themselves. Over the past decade, about 400,000 of them were so captivated by the city that they decided to stay for good. To be sure, a high level of liveability makes it easy to fall in love with Berlin. But the city has so much more to offer. As a science hub, Berlin offers skills and knowledge in just about any scientific field you can think of. Moreover, Germany’s capital of start-up businesses has developed an economic dynamic that attracts companies from inside and outside the country. Its location in the European heartland recommends it as place of business every bit as much as its ability to provide high-skilled graduates and its proximity to the start-up scene with its innovative potential for prospering businesses of tomorrow. In Kreuzberg, the impulsive energy of young generations is keenly felt and reflected in up-and-coming trends. Aside from this district’s centrality and legendary hipness, life here is defined by a highly productive cultural scene and by creative diversity. Especially the Bergmannstrasse has enormous appeal. Every store here is one of a kind—whether it sells wine, pastry or coffee, antique junk, designer artefacts or vintage goods by the pound, gourmet dog food, vegan takeaway food or famous sausages—while the space in between is dotted with cinemas, theatres and churches that occasionally double as concert halls. All of this embedded in a historic setting of streets that are testimony to the cultural heritage of the city. Viktoriapark, Gleisdreieck Park or the vast grasslands of the former Tempelhof airport grounds provide plenty of outdoor space for local recreation and leisure activities.

The building’s extensive redevelopment took account of heritage conservation and modern standards, restoring the complex to new splendour. Which makes it all the more exciting that you get to bring your personal interior decorating ideas to Grossbeerenstrasse 56 E. From the "Elisabeth" entranceway, take the stairs up. The entryway just behind the front door opens onto three bedrooms plus kitchen, bathroom and a storage closet. All of the bedrooms are on the side of the building frontage, facing south. This means their windows overlook the leafy courtyard garden. While the rooms are arranged side by side, they are not connected by doors. Directly across from the flat entrance door lies the bathroom of 25 square metres. Located to its left is the smallest bedroom of barely 14 square metres. The third bedroom next door has almost 23 square metres. Across the hall are the kitchen of 13 square metres and the bathroom. The windows of either overlook the greened backyard. Going forward, the layout could conceivably be restructured in one of several ways: You could, for instance, integrate the kitchen into one of the bedrooms, put in connecting doors between the rooms, or modernise and rearrange the sanitary area. The flat is ideal for a single- or two-person household that appreciates living at eye-level with the lovely courtyard garden. The unit as a whole is ready to be refurbished and to be customised according to the incoming owner’s ideas and requirements under the building code. The flat features all the elements that typify period buildings, like board floors, plaster mouldings on high ceilings, wooden doors and double-cased windows which were overhauled on the outside. The mail box system was also replaced during the refurbishment.