Nearly six years after its last flight, Berlin’s former Tegel Airport is entering a new era. City officials recently gathered to mark the groundbreaking of the Schumacher Quartier, a large-scale residential district. This development will accommodate over 10,000 residents on the eastern edge of the expansive airfield.
The Schumacher Quartier itself plans for more than 5,000 apartments across 46 hectares. An additional 4,000 units are envisioned in neighboring areas. Crucially, between 35 and 40 percent of these homes will be subsidized, ensuring affordability for many Berliners.
The broader 500-hectare Berlin TXL site is undergoing a three-part transformation. Alongside the residential Schumacher Quartier, the project includes the Urban Tech Republic. This research and industrial park will focus on urban technologies. Moreover, the Tegeler Stadtheide, a 190-hectare landscape and nature park, is also under development.
This ambitious redevelopment has followed a long and detailed planning journey. Discussions began in 2008 about the airport’s post-flight future. Over a decade of workshops, land use approvals, and master plan formulations ensued. Public participation also played a vital role in shaping the current vision.
Berlin TXL Management GmbH, a state-owned company, oversees this complex process. Founded in 2011, it is now responsible for building both the Urban Tech Republic and the Schumacher Quartier. Preparatory construction work commenced in 2021.
Sustainability is central to the Schumacher Quartier’s design. A large portion of the district will be constructed using wood. Recycled materials from the demolished airport will also find new life on site. Furthermore, the neighborhood aims to be largely car-free, incorporating a “sponge city” approach for climate-adapted water management.
Governing Mayor Kai Wegner described the milestone as “long overdue” at the groundbreaking. Reinickendorf district mayor Emine Demirbüken-Wegner hailed the project as a flagship for Germany and Europe. She highlighted its unique blend of research, business, and housing in one location.
Urban Development Senator Christian Gaebler noted a shift in public sentiment. Berliners once envied the airport’s proximity, he stated. Now, however, they envy the significant development area so close to the city center.
Nonetheless, one piece of infrastructure will face delays. The planned tram connection to the Schumacher Quartier is not expected before 2034. This means residents will move in approximately five years before its completion. Mayor Wegner additionally reaffirmed his coalition’s housing initiatives, aiming for 80,000 new apartments in Berlin by the end of the legislative period.
