Densification of Berlin: co-living as an alternative

Abstract

This following Berlin International University thesis is written to give a closer look in the living situation in Berlin (2019) and how it has developed over the last 2 decades. The media shows how rental prices in Berlin drives people out of the city center and how thousands of people protest against the progressive rent and gentrification under the motto: 'Gemeinsam gegen Verdrängung und Mietenwahnsinn', 'Together against repression and rent madness.' (Peter,2019) By looking at the data of the rising population in Berlin, one sees a direct correlation to the rising rent prices and sales prices, which has an effect on living within the city centre. The expanding Start-up scene in Berlin brings expats here to work and live, affecting the housing markets. Furthermore, this thesis will give an insight of a sharing economy. By using examples of how this has simplified people's lives and how it could be stretched to design living places in a metropole. A case study will be done over existing sharing platforms such as: Drivenow, Airbnb, Netflix and Spotify. A deeper look into existing Co-living spaces in Berlin and what they offer. Such as: Lifex, Vonder, Quarters, LiveBerlin and Projects in Berlin. The desired outcome of this thesis is to describe co-living as a possible alternative for living spaces in Berlin. Looking to be flexible and easily accessible and fulfilling the contemporary needs and designs of the market.