Kreuzberg secures affordable housing: Kuchenkaiser Haus becomes a cooperative!

Kreuzberg secures affordable housing: Kuchenkaiser Haus becomes a cooperative!

The former “Kuchen-Kaiser-Haus” on Oranienplatz in Berlin-Kreuzberg will be secured as affordable living space in the future. The sale of the historic building to the SelbstBau e.G. cooperative was realized with the support of the public sector and the active household community. This takes a significant step towards urban development oriented towards the common good.

The traditional building, which was operated as a café for over a century, passed to a community of heirs made up of five people in 2023. She inherited the house from Ulrich Fluss, who was known for his tenant-friendly attitude. Fluss had always been committed to good neighborliness and not just profit, which served as inspiration for the new owners to find a solution oriented towards the common good. They then contacted the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg urban development office to get support for the sale to the cooperative, reports developmentcity.de.

Sales and financing details

The SelbstBau e.G. cooperative was finally selected as the buyer for the “Cake Emperor House”. The purchase was notarized in April 2025 and will be completed in a few weeks, as the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office announced. The 26 apartments in the building will have an occupancy rate for at least 40 years, meaning the rents will be socially acceptable, supported by the state of Berlin. The Senate Department for Urban Development has provided funds as part of funding for cooperatives, which served as the basis for the investment bank Berlin (IBB) for the funding commitment in January 2025, informed nd-aktuell.de.

Building Senator Christian Gaebler (SPD) described cooperative funding as a unique instrument in a nationwide comparison that is not otherwise available in this form. In addition, the house community contributed its own contribution to financing the project and jointly developed a sustainable concept to address the housing shortage in the region.

A symbol for the future

The “Kuchen-Kaiser-Haus”, which is located at Leuschnerdamm 43 and Naunynstraße 46, is not only secured as living space, but also symbolizes a change in urban development. It shows that a sustainable solution for affordable housing can be found through community engagement and the support of public authorities. The initiative to secure the building is seen as an important step for the future development of the Kreuzberg district. The commitment of the SelbstBau e.G. cooperative and the house community is an example of successful district solutions that can serve as a model for other cities, in summary developmentcity.de.