The German capital is known for its contrasts, which come together in the residential districts and combine in a wonderful way despite their differences. The Weddinger Sprengelkiez is another district where Berlin’s colorful mix becomes an authentic interplay.
Located in the heart of Berlin, the Sprengelkiez is characterized by hustle and bustle and lively streets. However, the proximity to the water with its wide green spaces, playgrounds and parks is the perfect complement to city life.
The German capital’s neighborhoods have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is no different in the Sprengelkiez, which is characterized by residential buildings from the Wilhelminian era and various new construction projects.
Interesting facts about the Sprengelkiez
The neighborhood takes its name from Sprengelstraße, which was named after the botanist Christian Sprengel in 1897. It runs through the middle of the district.
The Sprengelkiez is located in the Wedding district of Berlin Mitte. It is bordered to the south by the Spandauer Schifffahrtskanal, to the north-west by Brüsseler Kiez and to the north-east by Antonkiez. In total, over 14,000 people live in the Sprengelkiez. They come from a wide variety of cultures and characterize the diversity of the Sprengelkiez.
As there are hardly any tourist attractions in Sprengelkiez, residents can enjoy a lot of peace and quiet despite its central location. At the weekends, they meet up on the north bank and go for a walk through the Sprengelkiez or meet up at the playground on Pekinger Platz. The Sprengelkiez is family-friendly, with schools, doctors and leisure activities in the immediate vicinity. Parents therefore only have to travel short distances and can guarantee their children a varied childhood and youth.
The most famous buildings in the Sprengelkiez include the Osterkirche church, the Robert Koch Institute, the Kurt Schumacher House and St. Joseph’s Church.
What is the current housing and real estate situation in the Sprengelkiez?
Even though large areas of the German capital fell victim to bombing raids during the Second World War, the majority of the buildings in the Sprengelkiez were preserved. Where the war had left gaps between buildings, there are now new buildings that blend perfectly into the cityscape.
Most of the residents of Sprengelkiez have lived in this beautiful neighborhood for many years. The long-established residents come from a wide variety of cultures and create a very special atmosphere that permeates the entire Berlin Mitte district.
In recent years, however, more and more young families have moved to the Sprengelkiez. They appreciate the central location, which is associated with a high quality of life despite the high population density. One of the most important employers in the neighborhood is the Robert Koch Institute. However, the neighborhood is also characterized by students who attend the Berlin University of Applied Sciences.
The real estate market in Berlin’s central residential areas is generally tight. There are significantly fewer properties on offer than are needed, as demand is constantly increasing. This has led to a sharp rise in prices. If you want to get hold of a property in the Sprengelkiez in Berlin, you have to be quick.
Milieu protection in the Sprengelkiez: the "Sparrplatz" social conservation area
Berlin’s central residential areas have been undergoing significant change in recent years. The modernization work on apartment buildings and the renovation of apartments have inevitably led to gentrification, including in the Sprengelkiez. Many people who lived in the Sprengelkiez until a few years ago can no longer afford the rents today. This has inevitably changed the cityscape.
To counteract this development, so-called milieu protection areas have been established in many parts of Berlin. The “Sparrplatz” social conservation area covers around 51 hectares and affects the entire Sprengelkiez neighborhood. The area in this location came into force in 2016. It was named after Sparrplatz, a park-like square in the middle of Sprengelkiez.
The purchase price trend for real estate in the Sprengelkiez
As already mentioned, property prices in the Sprengelkiez have risen significantly in recent years. Between the third quarter of 2021 and the third quarter of 2022, there was an increase of 12.5 percent. A development that could be observed throughout Berlin.
However, the year 2023 brought stagnation. Prices fell by 2.6% between the third quarter of 2022 and the third quarter of 2023. This development is partly due to the rise in interest rates for loans, while the political situation in Eastern Europe is also influencing the situation on the Berlin real estate market.
How much does a condominium in the Sprengelkiez cost?
Apartment prices in Sprengelkiez in the Wedding district of Berlin are currently € 4,200/m2. This figure refers to the third quarter of 2023. The cheapest apartment in Sprengelkiez was sold at a price per square meter of €3,750/m2, while the most expensive property changed hands for €8,520/m2. Prices in the Sprengelkiez are on a par with Berlin as a whole. Even though the neighborhood is centrally located and has an excellent infrastructure, properties are not quite as expensive as in other residential areas.
The prices refer to the development in Sprengelstrasse, which is used here as a representative of the entire neighborhood.
How much does a house in the Sprengelkiez cost?
There is no reliable data available that explicitly refers to the Sprengelkiez, which is why information valid for the Wedding district is used here.
In Wedding, residential properties currently cost around € 5,700/m2. The price has remained steady in recent months and, unlike in many neighboring residential districts in Berlin, has not fallen in 2023. While average prices at the level of Berlin as a whole have fallen to a current low, demand for properties in the Sprengelkiez in Berlin Wedding remains high.
The rental price trend for apartments in the Sprengelkiez
Rental prices continued to rise in 2023. In the second quarter of 2023, they averaged € 15.30/m2, which corresponds to an increase of 7% within one quarter.
However, rents in the Sprengelkiez are currently still slightly below the average for Berlin as a whole. Overall, rents in Berlin will reach € 15.80/m2 at the end of the second quarter of 2023. As interest in rental apartments in Berlin’s Sprengelkiez is extremely high, you should gather all the necessary documents in advance and present them at the latest when viewing the apartment.
The infrastructure in the Sprengelkiez
In the last few paragraphs, we have analyzed in detail how the property market in the Sprengelkiez district in central Berlin has developed in recent months. But what is life like in the Sprengelkiez? Are there enough parking spaces, schools and daycare centers? What shopping facilities do the residents of the neighborhood have? Which train stations are nearby? We take a closer look at all these questions here:
Transport connections (public transport)
Public transport is extremely important for Berliners. Many don’t own a car because the parking situation is tight, especially in the center of the capital. They take their bikes to get to work in the morning. Thanks to the sophisticated network of cycle paths, this is no problem.
But on days with bad weather, Berliners like to take the train or bus. The Sprengelkiez is well connected. Several bus lines criss-cross the neighborhood in different directions.
The S-Bahn station “Wedding” is located very close to the Sprengelkiez and is served by the S-Bahn lines S8, S41 and S42. You can take the U6 or U8 at the Leopoldplatz stop and the U9 at the Amrumer Straße subway station.
Parking lot situation
Almost all of Berlin’s central neighborhoods are affected by high parking pressure. The parking situation is tense because there is very high demand for the few parking spaces available. For this reason, there is extensive parking space management in Wedding. During the week and on Saturdays, parking spaces in the Sprengelkiez cost €3.00 per hour. The parking zone in Sprengelkiez has been in place since August 15, 2022 and covers the entire neighborhood.
Residents have the option of applying for a resident parking permit. This eliminates the parking costs. However, it is still not easy to find a suitable parking space near your home after work.
Demographic situation
A total of almost 17,000 people live in the Sprengelkiez. Around 18 percent of them have a migrant background, while around 40 percent have foreign citizenship. Wedding as a whole is known for its cultural diversity. The unique mix of different cultures can also be observed in the Sprengelkiez.
Party shares
The Sprengelkiez is part of the Berlin-Mitte constituency. In the 2021 federal elections in this district, the Greens emerged as the clear winners with a score of 30.7%. The SPD was in second place with 21.4%, while DIE LINKE came third with 13.8%. The CDU achieved 11.2% in its conservative camp, while the liberal-democratic FDP came fifth with 8.8%.
Daycare centers, schools and playgrounds
The Sprengelkiez stands out at first glance for its family-friendliness. No matter what age the children are, they will find a suitable kindergarten or a great school nearby. There are four kindergartens or daycare centers directly on Sparrstraße in Sprengelkiez. There is the Evangelische Osterkita on Sprengelstraße and the Eikita Hinterhof one block to the southwest. Childcare is provided for the youngest members of the family.
The Leo-Lionni elementary school is located in Müllerstraße on the northern edge of the Sprengelkiez, while Kristall Grundschule is further south. Secondary schools are spread throughout Wedding or are located nearby in other central districts of Berlin.
The children of the Sprengelkiez like to go to the playground on Pekinger Platz or meet up with their friends on Sparrplatz. There is a wide range of leisure activities on offer, as there are numerous art and sports facilities that the children can visit in the afternoon.
Doctors and medical care
Doctors’ surgeries are busy all over Germany. Nevertheless, people want to be able to visit their doctor close to home instead of having to travel several stops on the S-Bahn or U-Bahn. Berlin is known for having several doctors’ surgeries in every residential area. You can also find a dentist or a family doctor in Sprengelkiez.
For major operations or emergencies, residents of the Sprengelkiez go to the Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum in Wedding or the Alexianer St. Hedwig Hospital.
Shopping facilities
The residents of the Sprengelkiez mainly use public transport or cycle. One of the reasons for this is that all the necessary shopping facilities can be found in the immediate vicinity. Whether clothing, decoration or weekly shopping for the family – the distances are extremely short in the Sprengelkiez. There is an Edeka supermarket right on Sprengelstraße. But there are also delicatessens with specialties from different regions of the world.
Small stores and lovingly decorated stores are scattered throughout the Sprengelkiez. For big shopping trips, simply head to KaDeWe or one of Berlin’s shopping miles.
Gastronomy: restaurants, cafés and bars
The gastronomic offerings in the Sprengelkiez can certainly keep up with the neighboring districts. Whether Korean, Indian, Chinese or German cuisine, there is a restaurant to suit every taste. Naveena Path in Tegeler Straße and Café Schadé, also located in Tegeler Straße, are particularly popular.
Afternoons are spent enjoying a great conversation and delicious cake in one of the small cafés in the Sprengelkiez. For example at Strudelka in Sperrstraße and in the evening you can meet for a tart beer at Eschenbrau or a sparkling cocktail at Freya Fuchs.
Conclusion
The quality of life in the Sprengelkiez is extremely high. Residents and tourists come together and merge into a unique crowd. But even though a total of around 17,000 people live together in a small area, the Sprengelkiez is one of the quieter districts in the center of Berlin.
The Sprengelkiez is home to families from a wide range of cultures. They make everyday life a lively experience, filled with different languages and children running around the playground laughing loudly in the afternoon.
It is not surprising that the Sprengelkiez is one of the most popular residential areas in northwest Berlin. Naturally, this also has an impact on the real estate market. Both purchase prices and rents have risen sharply in recent years. Nevertheless, it is still worth buying a condominium in this neighborhood. Whether as an investment property or as a home, apartments in the neighborhood around Sprengelplatz will continue to increase in value in the future.
The future of the Sprengelkiez in Berlin looks very bright on several levels. If you are looking for information on buying an apartment in Berlin or are interested in a specific property, then get in touch with our team of experts today!
