The former post office: Historic architecture reinterpreted for contemporary living

INTERIOR
This apartment, located in the former post office, combines a generous layout with contemporary design and the tranquility of a sheltered courtyard. The living and kitchen area, around 37 m² in size, features oiled oak parquet flooring and is bathed in natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. From here, a balcony of about 5 m² opens onto the landscaped courtyard, where seating areas, playgrounds, and green spaces create a welcoming atmosphere.

The interior embraces a bright, minimalist aesthetic with a Scandinavian touch. The open-plan white fitted kitchen is equipped with AEG appliances, a black sink with matching fittings, and a kitchen island that offers additional workspace while elegantly separating the dining area. The bathroom is fitted with a Duravit Vero vanity, a Kaldewei bathtub, and Hansgrohe fixtures. A utility room of about 2.5 m² provides space for a washing machine, dryer, and extra storage, adding everyday convenience.

Residents also have access to a shared gym. Altogether, the apartment unites historic architecture with modern clarity: light-filled, functional, and framed by the calm setting of a leafy courtyard.

EXTERIOR
The centerpiece of the ensemble is the listed post office from the 1920s, designed by Chief Postal Engineer Willy Hoffmann. With its modernist formal language and expressionist detailing, it was regarded as groundbreaking architecture of its day and received wide recognition. Certain decorative elements remain intact, including the colorful patterns in the ticket hall and the larger-than-life sculpture The Last Postman by Hans Schmidt, cast in white stone, at the corner of Geisbergstrasse and Welserstrasse.

The red-brick façade, defined by its clear window axes and large arched openings on the ground floor, still exudes a striking presence. A modern white extension with clean lines and projecting balconies creates a dialogue between past and present.

The historic character extends into the interior. The stairwell is filled with light, with walls in warm yellow tones, large windows, and slender red metal railings. Here, the sober, expressionist-inspired architecture of the 1920s is reinterpreted for contemporary living.

LOCATION
Welserstraße lies in northern Schöneberg, one of Berlin’s most desirable inner-city neighborhoods. The area is marked by listed architecture from the 1920s, leafy courtyards, and a rich culinary scene. Next door, Ponte serves authentic Italian cuisine, while Café Komine just around the corner offers French-Japanese patisserie of the highest quality.

For daily needs as well as more extensive shopping, Viktoria-Luise-Platz with its shops and weekly markets is ideal, while City West, with the KaDeWe department store, Kurfürstendamm, and Zoologischer Garten, is just minutes away. Nearby green spaces such as Heinrich-von-Kleist-Park and Rudolf-Wilde-Park add to the quality of life. Transport connections are excellent: Berlin’s main train station can be reached in around 15 minutes, and BER Airport in about 30 minutes.