Highlights of Berlin’s past—in some cases, only traces of them remain in the city. As modern as the city is, the past never loses its charm. If you don’t remember West Berlin’s only wave pool—which is currently being renovated and won’t reopen until 2028—you’re surely familiar with the Blub. The former Blub in Berlin-Neukölln is one of the most famous recreational pools in Berlin’s history.
What opened in 1985 as a massive tropical water park with spectacular water slides, a wave pool, and exotic plants initially became one of West Berlin’s most popular destinations. Millions of people visited the water park before hygiene issues, financial difficulties, and ultimately its closure ushered in its decline. Afterward, the site transformed into one of the capital’s most famous “lost places.” Today, nothing remains of the former water park. On September 30, 2026, the new Greenpark residential complex, comprising a total of 860 apartments, was officially opened on the former Blub site.
On February 14, 1985, the Berliner Luft- und Badeparadies—or Blub for short—opened at Buschkrugallee 64 in the Britz neighborhood of Neukölln. Construction costs at the time totaled around 44 million German marks. At its opening, the Blub was considered the largest recreational pool in West Berlin and was among the largest water parks in Germany. Unlike traditional swimming pools, the facility was designed to offer its guests a tropical vacation experience right in the heart of the capital. The approximately 9,000-square-meter pool hall was spanned by three striking wooden roof domes. Beneath them, the air temperature remained around 29 °C year-round, while the water was heated to a pleasant 29 to 36 °C. Tropical plants, artificial rocks, and various water features ensured that visitors could feel like they were on vacation even in the middle of a Berlin winter.
One of the biggest attractions was a 120-meter-long water slide, which was considered the longest in Germany at the time of its opening. In addition, there was another 60-meter-long slide, a wave and surf pool, a whitewater channel, and, later, the “Crazy River” tube slide. Hot tubs, saltwater pools, grottoes, outdoor pools, and an expansive sauna area rounded out the offerings. Dining facilities were also part of this leisure paradise. Success was not long in coming. In its early years, the Blub attracted around 600,000 guests annually. In total, approximately seven million people visited the water park during its operating years. Its fame even extended into the world of soccer: during the 1985–86 season, the Blub served as the jersey sponsor for Hertha BSC. With the advertising slogan “Berlin is bubbling with delight,” the water park became an integral part of West Berlin’s leisure culture.
In the 1990s, the once-flagship project increasingly lost its appeal. The facility became more and more in need of renovation, while complaints about technical defects, rust, and poor cleanliness mounted. Added to this were problems with violent groups of visitors and growing competition from other water parks. After it closed, the former water park began to slowly fall into disrepair. The pools stood empty, windows were smashed, and numerous walls were covered in graffiti. Where families once swam among tropical plants and children slid down the water slides, debris, trash, and vandalism increasingly took over.
More than four decades after the Blub opened, the site has been completely transformed. On September 30, 2026, the new Greenpark residential neighborhood was officially inaugurated on the approximately 30,000-square-meter property. Where water slides, wave pools, and tropical plants once created a vacation atmosphere, there are now 15 modern residential buildings with a total of 860 apartments. The project was carried out by the real estate developer Bauwens, while the construction company Goldbeck erected the buildings using a serial construction method. Within about two years, approximately 36,000 square meters of living space and more than 1,400 square meters of common areas were created.
