‘A symbol of resistance’: the fight to save treehouse built on no man’s land next to Berlin Wall
Summary
In Berlin, Osman Kalin, a Turkish guest worker, built a small two-story "treehouse" on a patch of land next to the Berlin Wall in 1983. The site became a symbol of resistance and immigrant creativity during the Cold War, but now faces possible demolition by city authorities.Key Facts
- The treehouse is located on a small traffic island near the Berlin Wall in the Kreuzberg district.
- The land was a no man's land officially belonging to East Berlin but physically in West Berlin.
- Osman Kalin started planting vegetables there in 1983 and built the original shed, later replaced by the treehouse.
- Kalin got permission from East German authorities to stay as long as the building was no taller than the wall.
- After German reunification in 1990, Kalin faced eviction but was allowed to remain with help from a local church proving land ownership.
- Osman Kalin was one of millions of guest workers (Gastarbeiter) who came to West Germany to fill labor shortages.
- Kalin’s treehouse symbolizes resistance to the Cold War regime, racism, and discrimination.
- Since Kalin’s death in 2018, his son Mehmet has maintained the treehouse and its legacy.
- Supporters are now trying to prevent the demolition of the treehouse, which city officials see as a safety risk.
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