Berlin, October 22nd, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – On paper, the area around the “Bierpinsel” in Steglitz is now off limits. On Wednesday afternoon, however, pedestrians were simply pushing the barriers aside and walking along the sidewalk. Traffic on Schlossstrasse was also flowing freely, according to the “Berliner Morgenpost” daily. Only the traffic light at the intersection beneath the Joachim-Tiburtius Bridge was switched off, and it was unclear whether that was planned or caused by a malfunction.
The district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf had just expanded the restricted zone to a radius of roughly twelve meters around the tower. The decision followed an expert assessment commissioned after pieces of the facade broke loose on September 20th and fell to the ground. The appraiser told the district office that all of the facade elements are unsafe, which means that danger to the public space below can no longer be ruled out.
The closures affect roads, bike lanes and sidewalks. They include Schlossstrasse in the direction of Steglitz City Hall between Schildhornstrasse and Ahornstrasse, where buses are being rerouted. Both sides of the Joachim-Tiburtius Bridge are shut, as are the ramps to and from the A103 freeway. Through traffic on Schildhornstrasse toward Schlossstrasse is blocked as well, and so is access to the Schlossstrasse subway station on Franz-Amrehn-Platz.
Obligation to Renovate
District official Patrick Steinhoff of the CDU, who is responsible for urban development, was quoted by local German-language media. He said the authorities had “no other choice”, given the findings. He also put the owner on notice. The district expects solutions for securing the structure and for reopening the affected areas, he said, and the owner has an obligation to renovate the building and put it to use. Should the owner fail to respond, the district reserves the right to hire contractors itself and bill the owner for the cost. German administrative law allows this procedure.
The incident in September was serious enough that the fire department could not handle it alone. The loose pieces were hanging about 30 meters above the ground, out of reach for firefighters, so specialists in high-angle rescue had to be called in.
The “Bierpinsel” is a tower of about 50 meters with space for restaurants and bars. It opened in 1976 and became a local landmark thanks to its unusual shape. It has stood empty for several years. The building changed hands in 2021, but the hoped-for reopening never happened. A year ago, activists occupied the tower to draw attention to vacant properties in Berlin and to protest against owners who, in their view, let buildings decay. Police cleared the building.