Key facts
- A structure known as the Treehouse at the Wall, built on a no man's land next to the former Berlin Wall, is facing potential demolition.
- The Treehouse was created by Osman Kalin, a Turkish guest worker, who began cultivating the land in 1983.
- Supporters are campaigning to save the structure, viewing it as a symbol of resistance, immigrant ingenuity, and the absurdity of the Cold War.
- Local authorities are working with the Kalin family and community groups to address safety and ownership concerns and potentially grant permits for its preservation.
- The site holds historical significance, representing a tangible legacy of Turkish guest workers in post-war Germany and the divided city.
A unique structure known as the Treehouse at the Wall, built on a sliver of no man's land adjacent to the former Berlin Wall, is at risk of demolition, prompting a campaign by supporters to save it.
Osman Kalin, a Turkish guest worker, began cultivating a garden on the site in the Kreuzberg district of West Berlin in 1983. The land, though technically in West Berlin, was considered East German territory due to the Cold War division. Kalin transformed the neglected plot, which had been used as a dump, into a vibrant garden and eventually built the distinctive two-storey structure around a mature tree trunk.
Over the decades, the Treehouse became a symbol of resistance against the GDR regime, the ingenuity of immigrants, and the absurdity of the Cold War. After the city's reunification, Kalin faced eviction but managed to secure his right to stay through an agreement with the neighboring St Thomas church, which held historical ownership documents for the land.
Since Kalin's death in 2018, his son Mehmet has continued to maintain the property and his father's legacy. However, current city authorities cite public safety concerns and structural integrity issues as reasons for potential demolition. Supporters, including community leaders and historians, are advocating for the Treehouse to be preserved as a memorial to the 'Gastarbeiter' (guest workers) who contributed significantly to West Germany's post-war economic development.
Local officials, such as Kreuzberg district councillor Florian Schmidt, are reportedly working with the Kalin family and community groups to address the safety and ownership issues and explore the possibility of granting necessary permits for the structure's preservation. The situation highlights ongoing discussions about acknowledging the contributions of immigrant laborers and preserving tangible links to Berlin's divided past.