From discarded pieces a mountain rose. That’s Monte Balkon. Right here in Berlin’s Neu-Hohenschönhausen.
This isn’t some ancient peak. Monte Balkon is a climbing wall. Built in 1997 it’s surprisingly young. It’s made from old prefabricated building parts. Specifically balcony sections from a nearby housing development. These were stacked then covered in sprayed concrete. A unique repurposing of urban detritus.
The Hohenschönhausen-Nord housing development was built between 1981 and 1989. The Monte Balkon was a post-reunification project. A symbol of reuse and regeneration. It arose during the late 1990s cleanup of the area.
The Alpin Club Berlin a section of the German Alpine Club has maintained Monte Balkon since 1998. But sadly it’s been closed since 2012. Frost damage forced its closure. The fences went up in 2003 but the climbing stopped later. A shame for climbers. But maybe it can be revived. There are plans to renovate it.
Monte Balkon is more than a climbing wall. It’s a testament to Berlin’s inventive spirit. It shows how even discarded materials can find new life. A symbol of transformation from the past. A challenging climb for many years. Now a quiet observer of Berlin’s ongoing urban evolution. A potential climbing spot once again. Its future is uncertain. But its story remains captivating. A testament to ingenuity amidst urban change. A story etched in concrete and time.