Memoirs of a Gerhard: THE FIZZ Darmstadt Turns Five!

Memoirs of a Gerhard: THE FIZZ Darmstadt Turns Five!

Rewind
Bettina

Bettina

In September 2015, THE FIZZ opened its doors in Darmstadt. Since then, the house and its staff have seen a lot. Read the memories of House Manager Gerhard here.

The best place to live
for your studies in Darmstadt

More than 1.300 students from over 20 countries have lived, studied, and met friends for life in the average 22 m² apartments directly opposite the TU (Technische Universität). What tenants love about the city is that everything is within easy walking or biking distance and that students from all over the world come together here.

“”I have the coolest job in Darmstadt!

Many of our tenants come directly from their parents’ homes and move into their first apartment with us. We support them in this new phase of life and make it easy for them to live here. We organize activities, take care of repairs, accept packages, help with official business and are available all day,” he explains.

Memoirs of a Gerhard: THE FIZZ Darmstadt Turns Five! house manager gerhard henning
House Manager

Gerhard Henning

Gerhard, who comes from the hotel industry, has the service and host mentality in his blood. He values contact with young people and enjoys watching them develop over months and sometimes years. As House Manager, he is responsible for the reception, accounting, administration, but also for building and shaping an active community together with the house team.

There are no limits to their creativity. In addition to picnics, international dinners, summer and welcome parties, they organize movie nights and joint visits to THE FIZZ’s own god goat “Blacky” at Darmstadt Zoo – who, by the way, is a true blonde.

“My job is to make people feel comfortable here,” says Gerhard. Whether in the communal kitchen, movie lounge, on the roof terrace or in the study rooms, students quickly make contacts in the shared spaces. When the amateur musicians among the tenants dreamed of a piano, they got one on ebay. Now it’s in one of the study rooms and is used enthusiastically – after study hours, of course 😉

View of THE FIZZ Darmstadt with community kitchen, chairs and tables.
View of THE FIZZ Darmstadt Lobby with colourful lamps hanging from white ceilings, a group of cozy brown armchairs and the reception in the far back.

Staying abroad is more than just
studying at a German university

“Even though we can’t currently use the common areas like we used to as a result of the Corona virus, we’re still like one big residential community. No one is alone or isolated here. This is especially appreciated by the foreign students who still come. For many, the stay abroad involves more than just studying at a German university,” explains Gerhard. For the summer, the tenants and the House Manager would like to finally be able to celebrate a summer party again.

A large, light studio apartment with a double bed in the front, a round coffee table and two stools in the back beneath the window front and a desk and chair beside it.
A sunny rooftop terrace with sunloungers and tables with benches. There are treetops visible in the back.
A single studio apartment with bed in the front, desk and chair on the right and kitchenette and round eating table to the left. Through the windows, the tower of the Technische Universität of Darmstadt is visible.

THE FIZZ Darmstadt consists of a listed building with 97 units and a new building with 245 apartments. Currently, the all-in rent starts at 633 Euros per month.

Those who live here actually become part of a long-lasting community: many former tenants still frequently drop by for a chat. Two FIZZies even got married: A real bond for life!

Photo rights by International Campus GmbH