One year after the symbolic ground-breaking, BAUWERT AG marks progress in Segelflieger Quartier Berlin with the symbolic foundation stone laying for the Arthur and Thekla projects. Following the completion of the basement levels, structural work will now commence. The ceremony, which marked the start of the structural construction phase, took place in the presence of Professor Petra Kahlfeldt, Senate Building Director and State Secretary for Urban Development, Oliver Igel, District Mayor of Treptow-Köpenick, and the participating architects.
The two projects, Arthur and Thekla, comprise a total of 182 rental apartments. Planning permissions were granted on 15 December 2025, after which BAUWERT AG began excavation work on 1 February 2026. Completion of both buildings is planned for spring 2028. BAUWERT AG was the first project developer to begin construction on the approximately 21-hectare site of the former Johannisthal airfield. In the meantime, the development of the entire area has gained momentum. Public infrastructure development began in summer 2026, and at the end of August, degewo AG initiated the development of a further 546 apartments, including 440 publicly subsidised units.
The first new builds: Arthur and Thekla
The naming of the first two buildings – Arthur and Thekla – references the history of the site and honours the Johannisthal entrepreneur and founding couple of Johannisthal airfield, Arthur and Thekla Müller. Future BAUWERT AG buildings in this quarter will also bear the names of personalities from Johannisthal's aviation history.
- —**Arthur (Design: Stefan Forster GmbH)**: A five-storey new build with 146 rental apartments. Living spaces range between 46 m² and 121 m² and offer two to five rooms. Approximately 85% of the apartments are designed to be barrier-free, and each unit features a loggia, terrace, or balcony. An underground car park with 37 spaces and 14 above-ground parking spaces complement the offering. Photovoltaic systems on 30% of the roof areas, 50% greened roof areas, and the DGNB pre-certificate in Gold underscore the sustainability standard.
- —**Thekla (Design: gmp Architekten)**: A three-storey new build with 36 rental apartments. Apartment sizes range from 32 m² to 90 m² and include one to four rooms. In conjunction with the listed Fliegervilla, Thekla forms an ensemble within the conservation area of the quarter. Each unit is equipped with a loggia. Approximately 50% of the apartments are barrier-free. Thekla was also awarded the DGNB pre-certificate in Gold.
Professor Petra Kahlfeldt stated that Segelflieger Quartier exemplifies the development of one of the 24 new Berlin urban quarters, connecting the history of the place with future requirements. She emphasised the creation of residential buildings with individual architectural signatures, which are simultaneously part of an overarching urban development concept. District Mayor Oliver Igel noted that with the ground-breaking ceremony, an important step for Segelflieger Quartier and Johannisthal becomes visible, creating not only housing but also a new district with jobs and infrastructure.
Dr. Jürgen Leibfried, founder and CEO of BAUWERT AG, highlighted the development from urban planning idea to built quarter and expressed pleasure at the revitalisation of the entire area. Daniel Herrmann, CEO of BAUWERT AG, added that Arthur and Thekla are the first visible building blocks of a quarter that will connect living, working, science, and social infrastructure. He emphasised that BAUWERT AG will realise a total of approximately 1,800 apartments here, and with the first 182 rental apartments with DGNB Gold certification, they are implementing their commitment to architecture, sustainability, and quality. Segelflieger Quartier is no longer a future vision but is being realised and represents a success story.
Quarter development and vision
Segelflieger Quartier is being developed on the site of the former Johannisthal airfield. By 2030, over 1,800 apartments are planned for completion, of which approximately 25% will be subsidised rental apartments. The project also includes a nursery, a district centre, generous green spaces, and approximately 153,000 m² of commercial space to expand the Adlershof Technology Park. The quarter is designed according to the
