Nikolassee

Nikolassee is a high-end residential district in southwestern Berlin, known for villas, lakes and proximity to Grunewald forest. The defining local feature of Nikolassee is the relationship between water, shorelines, access paths and the housing or open space immediately around them. How Nikolassee is used over the course of the day depends on views, recreational routes and abrupt transitions between built blocks and a more open waterside setting. Nikolassee lies in the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, about 16 km southwest of central Berlin. The transitions from Nikolassee toward Krumme Lanke and Wannsee are gradual, marked by changes in building form, traffic and greenery. Around Nikolassee, even a few minutes on foot can bring noticeable changes in noise, greenery and access to everyday services. Together, these elements make the stronger sense of space created by the water within the surrounding district central to the identity of Nikolassee.