Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Berlin’s wealthiest borough, is a green cosmopolitan oasis with it all: grand estates, lakes, woodlands, historic sites and premier cultural attractions.
“You can tell relatively quickly that you are in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, an urban area nestled by water and forests in Berlin’s poshest district, by the expensive villas, classy restaurants and chic cars,” said Sandra Hübner, head of sales, Berlin Sotheby’s International Realty. “Celebrities, the newly rich and the old-established appreciate this beautiful life.”
Boundaries
The community originally was seven small villages—Wannsee, Nikolassee, Zehlendorf, Dahlem, Lichterfelde, Steglitz and Lankwitz. In 2001, Steglitz-Zehlendorf was created.
It is bounded on the west by the city of Potsdam, on the northwest by the Havel River and the Spandau district, on the north by the borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, on the east by the borough of Tempelhof-Schoneberg and on the south by the municipality of Kleinmachnow and the town of Teltow.
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Price Range
“Living space in Steglitz-Zehlendorf is scarce and highly sought after,” Ms.Hübner said. “Prices are high, especially in the exclusive locations such as posh Dahlem or in the waterfront locations of Wannsee, and the market is characterized by very high demand.”
Single-family houses generally sell for €2 million to €20 million (US$2.19 million to US$21.88 million), said Thu Trang Tran, a real estate agent with Engel & Völkers.
Condos typically sell for €7,000 to €20,000 per square meter, she added.
Older flats run about €5,000 to €5,500 per square meter, while new-construction houses typically are €8,000 per square meter, Ms. Hübner added.
Housing Stock
Purchasers have a choice of a variety of housing types ranging from elegant Wilhelminian-style buildings to residential complexes styled like villages and modern homes designed by noted architects. Some are attached, and some are detached.
The borough includes so-called “forest settlements,” rural-like developments that offer even more of a respite from the hectic life of the city.
Among the more famous ones are Papageiensiedlung, or the Parrot Settlement, so named for its brightly painted residences, and Waldsiedlung, whose country-style estates date to 1939 and have a dark past as Nazi SS housing during WWII.
What Makes It Unique
“Steglitz-Zehlendorf is an idyllic haven in an otherwise hectic Berlin,” said Ms. Tran. “Here, luxury and culture meet urbanity. Residents enjoy the attractive, quiet residential location in nature with its numerous lakes and vast forests while living right in a big city at the same time.”
Luxury Amenities
The community has a variety of cultural amenities that set it apart from surrounding areas.
It’s home to the Free University of Berlin, which hosts a number of public events and lectures and which Ms. Hübner said “is internationally renowned and is considered a center of attraction for scientists from all over the world.”
The community has a vibrant restaurant scene. Popular spots include La Favorita, which serves Italian fare; Alter Krug, which has a beer garden and a family-friendly menu focused on German cuisine; and Jungbluth, which is known for its vegetable dishes with fish and meat.
There are numerous sports clubs and sailing and rowing clubs in the Wannsee district. Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee, which has mooring space for 25 yachts, is the second-oldest yacht club in Germany. Potsdamer Yacht Club is another option. Golf-und Land-Club Berlin-Wannsee is one of the oldest and most well known in continental Europe.
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There are a number of museums that draw tourists and residents alike. The Brücke-Museum owns one of the largest collections of German Expressionist works; the Ethnological Museum features national treasures; and the Museum of European Cultures focuses on the 18th-century to the present day.
The hunting lodge Jagdschloss Grunewald, which was built in the 1540s, is the oldest-preserved castle of Berlin. It houses a collection of paintings.
The Liebermann Villa, the former summer home of painter Max Liebermann, is open to the public and has a collection of his work on exhibit.
The living history Museum Village Düppel features medieval cottages.
The Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum, which attracts 500,000 visitors a year, has 20,000 flowering plants.
Park Glienicke is an English-style garden open to the public that features a hunting lodge and a palace.
Domäne Dahlem, an organic farm open to the public, has a manor house, a blacksmith’s shop and an agricultural history museum.
FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin, the largest active football club in the city, has 1,600 members and 65 teams.
For international luxury brands, shoppers head to Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, which is right over the border.
Other attractions include Strandbad Wannsee, one of the largest inland open-air beaches in Europe, Schlachtensee Lake, Forest Gruenwald, which has lakes and ponds and trails, and Peaco*ck Island, which has a park and a palace.
There are several private schools in the community that enroll students in grades one through 12. They include the John F. Kennedy School, the Berlin International School and Freie Schule Anne-Sophie.
Kant Grundschule and Königin-Luise-Stiftung are private primary schools.
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Who Lives There
Noting that in 2019, Steglitz-Zehlendorf had the most millionaires in the city, Ms.Hübner said that “the green parks, accessible recreational areas, the shopping centers, schools and doctors attract young families from the academic milieu as well as students. For older generations, the district offers enough peace and quiet and inviting green spaces.”
In addition to families, there are many diplomats and politicians, Ms. Tran said.
Notable Residents
There are a number of prominent people who live in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, including conductor Simon Rattle, Friede Springer, the majority owner of the media company Axel Springer SE, whose assets include Bild, Europe’s largest newspaper, actor Matthias Brandt, yoga guru Ursula Karven, singer Sarah Connor, actresses Tin Ruland and Andrea Sawatzki and singer Bernhard Brink, according to the agents.
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Outlook
“Uncertainty in the residential real estate market in recent months, which has extended the average time to sell a house,” Ms. Tran said. But “we assume that this is temporary.”
The market has been moving again in the first quarter of this year, she said—demand that is likely to drive sales and rental prices up. “Berlin remains an attractive market for national and international clients, especially since the capital is popular in the creative sense, and the number of job offers is one reason for the influx.”
But property prices in Berlin, she added, have not rebounded as much as those in other major German cities, including Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt.
Ms. Hübner added that Steglitz-Zehlendorf has become increasingly popular, which has pushed prices up. “The market is characterized by an ever-increasing demand,” she said. “There is comparatively little construction activity but a large supply of existing properties and a stable investment climate.”
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