18/05/2026
Berlin – a work trip for a new project and three days to rediscover the city from a different perspective.
Coming back to a city you haven’t seen in ten years is always interesting, especially when over the years you keep hearing the same narratives around it: crime, social tension, migration issues, and a general sense of decline.
I came to Berlin for work, the meetings went warmly, and at the same time it became an opportunity to look at the city again with fresh eyes.
The impression was different from what I expected.
Berlin is the second most populated city in the European Union after Paris, with nearly 3.7 million residents, around 75% of whom are Germans. Yet the city feels calm, clean, and incredibly balanced.
Good food, well-developed infrastructure, and architecture where historical surroundings and contemporary buildings coexist naturally.
What felt especially unexpected was how empty the streets are in such a large metropolis.
After New York or Dubai, the contrast is noticeable: despite its scale, Berlin moves quietly and without rush.
For those considering buying land or building in Germany, there is one important principle to understand.
The country uses a land development ratio called GRZ. In many residential areas it is set at 0.2, which means only 20% of the plot can be built on.
The rest must remain landscape, greenery, and open space.
And this is exactly what shapes the character of local architecture.
The area around the house is not treated as leftover land – it is designed with the same level of attention as the architecture itself.
Ponds, separate pavilions, guest houses, garages, and large green zones all become part of the overall spatial experience.
