Berlin gives tiny mobile pavilions to districts to strengthen local tourism strategies

They will serve as galleries, workshops information centres and conflict resolution spots

Today, local authorities in Berlin announced they will hand over the keys of three tiny house-type pavilions to three of the city's districts. The mobile pavilions were constructed by visitBerlin, the municipal tourist organisation, as an instrument to boost the local tourist industry through a targeted approach.

One of the houses will function as a tourist information centre in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, a cultural exhibitions pavilion Lichtenberg and as part of the Nachtbürgermeister (Night Mayor) project in Tempelhof-Schöneberg.

16 square metres of efficiency

Berlin’s new tiny houses were developed as an instrument to boost local tourism and provide a variety of services across the city. Previously, individual districts could lease them free of charge and use them as a temporary pavilion. City officials, though, decided to find a more permanent use and offered them to the three districts with the best ideas on how to integrate them into the local tourist programmes.

The tiny houses are primarily made of wood and have an area of 16 square meters being permanently mounted on a trailer to allow for further flexibility. They can be used as tourist information centres, workshops, exhibition spaces or even as part of events or more complex local campaigns.

Think small

Michael Grunst, District Mayor of Lichtenberg, explained that they have already had great success in the use of the tiny house as part of art projects utilising public spaces. He described the mobile buildings as a perfect attachment to any event, blending seamlessly into the cityscape while offering some necessary infrastructure.

Cerstin Richter-Kotowski, District Mayor of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, explained that the tiny house is a great opportunity for the south-western parts of Berlin as they currently lack a tourist information centre. The permanent facility will be constructed in 2025. Until then, the tiny house will serve as a starting point for the numerous visitors it receives each year.

Angelika Schöttler, District Mayor of Tempelhof-Schöneberg, underlined the importance of the mobile structure to the Night Mayor Project. Tempelhof-Schöneberg is an area mixing nightlife and residential spots, which sometimes creates tension between the residents and the visitors.

This is especially true for representatives of the LGBT+ community, as there are many reports of night-time harassment. This is what the Night Mayor Project hopes to remedy, using a very successful model implemented in Amsterdam.

Essentially, the Night Mayor Project offers a 24/7 street-level presence of city officials, that can work to mediate any local disputes as they happen.