After reviving a former school complex in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, the female entrepreneurs behind GLS restored the iconic Stadtbad Oderberger bathhouse to its full grandeur.
The story of the GLS Campus began in 2005:
Searching for a new home for her rapidly expanding GLS Language School—then based in Berlin-Schöneberg—founder Barbara Jaeschke discovered a vacant, abandoned school complex on Kastanienallee in Prenzlauer Berg.
The site paired a 1950s GDR modernist building—erected on post-war ruins and characterized by bright, light-filled spaces—with two 19th-century school structures, both awaiting comprehensive restoration.
While the main front building was designated for the language school, Barbara Jaeschke repurposed the historic classrooms into self-contained studio apartments. Today, the resulting GLS Campus Hotel serves both language students and independent global travelers.
A Success with Consequences
Impressed by the successful revitalization of the school grounds, the Berlin-Pankow District Office entrusted founder Barbara Jaeschke in 2011 with the restoration and future development of the neighboring Stadtbad Oderberger.
Designed by Pergamon Museum architect Ludwig Hoffmann and opened in 1902, this Neo-Renaissance gem stood vacant after closing in 1986. Following decades of failed redevelopment attempts, Barbara Jaeschke acquired the landmark, unlocking its historic rebirth.
In 2016, after five years of restoration carried out alongside historic preservation authorities, the site reopened as Hotel Oderberger, restoring a beloved Berlin landmark for local residents and global guests.
Today, Hotel Oderberger is celebrated as a benchmark for historic preservation in Berlin. Its remarkable transformation has drawn international acclaim, with features in publications such as VOGUE, the BBC, Forbes, and The Guardian.
A New Beginning
Where Berliners once went to school or swam, people from not only Berlin but from all over the world come together again today.
Of all Berlin’s quirky renovations following the fall of the Wall, the world should be most grateful for the super-wacky Hotel Oderberger. - Forbes
Outlook
As an internationally renowned language school, GLS welcomes students from across the globe to learn German in Berlin. To meet rising demand, GLS is expanding its campus accommodation, adding 90 new rooms across five dedicated floors.
Featuring shared kitchen spaces on each floor, this expansion is intentionally conceived as a community-first residence rather than a standard hotel. Scheduled to open in 2029, it will provide a central space for global students and guests to connect.
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