Affordable Housing Despite the Crisis? How BIM Makes Construction More Cost-Effective
COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, and the energy and construction crises are just some of the challenges that have significantly impacted the German construction and real estate sector in recent years. The number of new housing projects highlights a familiar problem: the availability of affordable housing. The OTTO WULFF project on Senftenberger Straße in Berlin-Hellersdorf demonstrates how it is possible to create urgently needed affordable housing for the capital, even in times of crisis.
Creating Affordable Homes for the Capital
In February 2023, OTTO WULFF Berlin handed over 150 apartments to the client STADT UND LAND after just 22 months of construction. The new five-storey buildings offer barrier-free apartments ranging from two to six rooms, each featuring a balcony or terrace. The modern, landscaped inner courtyard provides attractive outdoor spaces for residents. Play facilities such as a table tennis table and a small playground turn the area into a community meeting point.
Half of the apartments are subsidized by the City of Berlin, with rents ranging from €6.50/m² to €8.20/m². By comparison, the average rental price for apartments in 2024 is €17.23/m². Source: E&V
Modular construction and Building Information Modeling: creating synergies
The apartments on Senftenberger Strasse were built as part of the STADT UND LAND TYPENHAUS PLUS project, in collaboration with MARS Architekten, Arnold und Gladisch Architekten, and mib Märkische Ingenieur Bau GmbH. The development followed a step-by-step process based on a ready-made type house plan.
These type houses combine modular construction with Building Information Modeling (BIM). This approach allows for standardized construction while still offering flexibility in design. "BIM brings transparency, higher quality, and more certainty in terms of costs and schedules. But above all, it’s about teamwork, which benefits the entire planning and construction process," explains BIM expert Thomas Riedel from OTTO WULFF.
Stefan Wulff, Managing Partner at OTTO WULFF, adds: "Expanding our BIM expertise helps us improve long-term quality and the overall value of our projects. This pilot project also shows how we can create affordable living space. The type houses on Senftenberger Strasse are a great example of how construction companies can contribute to solving the housing challenge in a socially responsible way."
What is BIM?
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, is a digital working method that is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry. It involves creating and sharing digital models that contain all relevant information about a building. These models can be used by everyone involved in the project to optimize planning, execution, management, and maintenance. BIM helps reduce errors, save time, control costs, and improve quality and sustainability. More than just software, BIM represents a new way of building in the digital age, fostering better collaboration across all teams.
Open to change: BIM at OTTO WULFF
The standard houses not only provide affordable options in a competitive housing market, but also advance modern construction practices.
Digitalization is playing an increasingly important role in the construction industry, and the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a key part of this development. BIM is already mandatory for public construction projects with a gross construction volume of 5 million euros or more.
Our BIM expert Thomas Riedel highlights its significance for the future of construction: "BIM makes construction faster and more cost-effective. Many factors today can still slow down a construction site, but the digital approach, starting from the planning phase, can overcome many of these hurdles. Implementing BIM requires a cultural shift in the construction industry, and we must be open to embracing this new technology."
