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Jeden Monat nähern sich unsere Kolumnisten, die Berliner Filmemacher Dominik und Benjamin Reding, dem jeweiligen Heftthema
auf ihre ganz eigene Art und Weise. Geboren wurden die Zwillinge am 3. Ja nuar 1969 in Dortmund. Während Dominik Architektur
in Aachen und Film in Hamburg studierte, absolvierte Benjamin ein Schauspielstudium in Stuttgart. 1997 begann die Arbeit an ihrem
ersten gemeinsamen Kinofilm „Oi! Warning“. Seitdem arbeiten sie für Fernseh- und Kinofilmprojekte zusammen.

Each month our columnists, Berlin-based filmmakers Dominik and Benjamin Reding, approach the respective issue-specific theme
in their very personal way. The twins were born on January 3, 1969 in Dortmund. Whilst Dominik studied architecture in Aachen
and film in Hamburg, Benjamin graduated in acting studies in Stuttgart. They started working on their first joint motion picture “Oi!
Warning“ in 1997. Since then they have tightly collaborated for TV and cinema film projects.

A t first it was just a pulling sensation in the lower back, then problems urinating, small-scale character with shops, flats and cafés. That’s an ideal combination! We often
then pain in the whole abdomen. So, after much hesitation, I went to the urolo-
don’t manage that, like in Berlin in the case of Potsdamer Platz, where we didn’t mana-
gist. The examination turned out the way such examinations do: If it was just that, a ge it at all.” DR: “But why does the free market build so few flats that also generate
minor ailment, you get a prescription for a drug that –I suspect – serves more as a returns, beyond the ‘stress’ caused by the ‘thousands’ of tenants?’ RK: “Yes, but it’s also
placebo for the patient’s martyred soul than to have any other effect. Or you don’t a matter of urban land-use planning what you allow. If it doesn’t happen, then it’s a
receive a prescription, but only the information that you will be called as soon as the failure of building policy.” DR: “Is it also because so many municipal properties have
blood count has been analysed. Like in my case. On the return journey on the S-Bahn, been privatized in recent decades?” RK: “Municipal land cannot be multiplied and
I think about what might come and look at the passing city with its impassive, stony public interests often do not coincide with private interests. It would be the task of the
face. There! I wake up. There was always this industrial wasteland and there, the aban- public sector to reinvest in social housing, but the municipalities are hardly in a posi-
doned scrap yard and behind it, a disused miniature golf course that has been reclai- tion to do this for financial reasons. That’s why the plots are then sold to private inve-
med by nature. Now new office buildings are populating the plots that have languished stors, who at least put something there in the first place.” DR: “But why wasn’t the
for so long. Entire new office neighbourhoods! High and sleek and massive, hardly a social housing programme that was ended under Chancellor Kohl reactivated under the
project with less than ten storeys. The comeback of high-rise buildings, in some cases following federal governments?” RK: “It is already being done in parts. There are still
rounded and curved, in others angular and pointed, either shiny and silvery or with municipal housing associations that build housing, but the key idea at the time was to
façade elements in the colours of the season, also with granite, GRP or PVC. The new leave everything to the private market, to private investors. I think that’s wrong. As
office buildings only have one thing in common: many of them are empty. I rarely see construction minister, I endeavoured to get housing projects off the ground, but this
recently built residential buildings on my journey and when I do, it’s only these creamy- was opposed by the more market-oriented position of our society, which is also shared
white blocks of condominiums, always a little reminiscent of trendy wellness resorts on by many social democrats.” DR: “Are there no options at all for creating more incenti-
Ibiza or Corfu, with similar prices, only not per night, but per square metre. Flats for ves for housing construction?” RK: “Well, you have to want it. Then one would certain-
low-income earners, young families, students and trainees: There are none. One que- ly find a way.” DR: “What ways could local authorities and the legislature take to
stion arises: Why are hundreds of thousands of square metres of reduce the office vacancy rate?” RK: “Through taxes, how tax poli-
office space being produced in the big cities – despite the home cy is organized, where the funding priorities are emphasized! You
office, the constantly repeated slogan of “de-bureaucratization” can influence that through tax policy.” DR: “And what could poli-
and the equally persistently proclaimed existence of the ticians do to boost housing construction for the socially disadvan-
“paperless office” for decades – and, at the same time, hardly taged, meaning for people who can’t afford a condominium for a
any flats for ordinary people? It helps if you know a former fede- million euros?” RK: “We have the instrument of housing benefit,
ral minister of construction personally and, by a dose of luck and which is intended to help accommodate people on low incomes
coincidence, can call him a friend. Then you can call him and in the private housing allowances and we need to revitalize social-
through the city, I discover entire neighbourhoods full of new Grafik: Benjamin Reding “Yes, you just have to want it!” DR: “And why can’t you get your
housing construction.” DR: “Do you think that’s possible?” RK:
ask him directly. And that’s what I do: RK: Reinhard Klimmt, DR:
“Hello Reinhard, this is Dominik!” RK: “Hello Dominik!” DR: “I’ll
go straight into medias res: More and more often when I drive
party colleagues to do it?” RK: “Ask Mrs Geywitz (the current Fede-
ral Minister of Construction), but she won’t listen to me...” (he
buildings, almost all office and administrative, architecturally more or less successful. laughs). DR: “I have a more private question in conclusion: What was your most impor-
But almost all of these new buildings have one thing in common: they are empty. Why tant project as federal minister of construction?” RK (ponders): “... yes, that was defini-
is that?” RK: “The decision to invest in property is always based on profit and office tely the Bundesstiftung für Baukultur, which was intended to raise the quality of muni-
buildings, with their expected rental income, are then a sensible investment. I don’t cipal and private construction projects, and the idea of promoting the purchase of
know why people sometimes misjudge, but there is another reason for vacancies: it is residential property for families through low-interest building loans. These were both
often better for the balance sheet, in terms of the consequences, to write off the invest- social and qualitative approaches: To have the social mission of the Federal Ministry in
ment for tax purposes than if the office spaces had been let.” DR: “But why is so much mind and to improve the quality of building culture. That’s why I authorized the exten-
office and administrative space being built in the first place?” RK: “Because you expect sion to the German Historical Museum in Berlin, the Pei Building (designed by the
secure returns and certainly also because you only have to deal with a few business architect Ieoh Ming Pei, construction period 2000-2003), which wouldn’t exist without
partners and don’t have to ‘fight’ with thousands of tenants.” DR: “What means of me.” He tells me he is about to meet with the director of the UNESCO World Heritage
regulating the property market are available to politicians and legislators?” RK: “Well, Site Völklinger Hütte and that he is then going out to dinner with his family and I say
there aren’t really any. As far as urban land-use plans are concerned, the responsibili- “Thank you and see you one of these days” and hang up. A few minutes later the
ties lie with the local authorities. You then have to make sure that the responsible phone rings. It’s the doctor! My body tenses, my heart pounds, I listen intently:
urban land-use planning authorities ensure that there is a sensible mix of office space, “Everything‘s fine. Just a slight bladder infection. A little baking soda dissolved in clear
flats and commerce and that such purely new office neighbourhoods are not approved water should do it ...” The sun is high, the sky is a cloudless blue, I take the next
in the first place. What was important to me as construction minister was densification, underground to the Museumsinsel station. I walk over to the baroque Zeughaus and
meaning the combination of larger facilities with small-scale development. That not all walk the last few metres. The smooth sandstone of the geometrically interlocking Pei
these office ‘deserts’ are created, but that people find locations they can identify with. Building shines brightly. “Wow, how marvellous that it exists!” Tourists turn to look at
A role model for me is Paris, where you have the large boulevards, but also this whole me. I shouted it out loud, not just thought it. And didn’t even realize it.

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