ehemaliges Wasserwerk Riemeisterfenn

Hidden beneath a cloak of overgrown foliage, the ehemaliges Wasserwerk Riemeisterfenn whispers tales of a bygone era. This seemingly unassuming ruin, nestled on the edge of Krumme Lanke in Berlin, played a vital role in quenching the thirst of Zehlendorf’s residents. Constructed in 1955 and inaugurated in 1957, the ehemaliges Wasserwerk Riemeisterfenn, alongside its counterpart in Beelitzhof, provided the lifeblood of this affluent neighborhood. Its unique feature, a now-charred thatched roof, belies the technological marvel it once housed. The pumping station itself resided underground, a testament to the area’s commitment to preserving the surrounding Riemeisterfenn nature reserve. Two submersible pumps labored tirelessly within the depths of this hidden infrastructure. They extracted water from a 28-meter deep horizontal filter well, equipped with thirteen filter strands, pumping approximately 20 million liters of water daily. This output, though modest, representing a mere 2% of Berlin’s total water consumption, sufficed for the nearby villas. The extraction, however, contributed to a persistent issue – the gradual lowering of the groundwater table. Even today, the Riemeisterfenn, Krumme Lanke, and Grunewaldsee rely on Havel water, artificially channeled through the Fennkanal, to sustain their delicate ecosystems. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ehemaliges Wasserwerk Riemeisterfenn became redundant. Decommissioned in 1995, the well remained on standby, a silent sentinel awaiting a potential resurgence. The building found new life in 2007 as “Waldhaus Ostermann”, a popular local haunt for those seeking solace in the Grunewald forest. “Waldcafé Beumer & Lutum” joined the scene in 2009, further enhancing the area’s appeal. A proposed art installation in 2011 met resistance due to environmental concerns, and plans for a restroom in 2015 never materialized. The building stood vacant for years. Demolition plans loomed, but fate intervened. On the night of November 7, 2018, flames engulfed the thatched roof, leaving behind the skeletal remains we see today. The cause, suspected arson, remains a mystery. The fire, fueled by the dry thatch, raged for hours, despite the efforts of 50 firefighters who faced challenges accessing water from the nearby Krumme Lanke. Although the building remains a poignant reminder of a fiery end, the ehemaliges Wasserwerk Riemeisterfenn’s story is not over. Plans are underway to restore the underground infrastructure. The application for repurposing sits with the urban planning department. The future remains uncertain, yet the whispers of its past continue to resonate within the tranquil setting of the Riemeisterfenn.