Gerhardt Braun: "We help create space that grows with people and gives them back a bit of freedom"

On September 18, 2025, REFIRE is organising the first German self storage conference for the drive-up storage and garage park segment in Frankfurt am Main. Gerhardt Braun RaumSysteme is one of the event's sponsors and provides the planning and installation for partition wall systems as well as accompanying consulting services for the creation of self-storage facilities. Reason enough to talk to Daniel Mayer, sales manager at Gerhardt Braun, to find out more about what needs to be considered when designing the interior of such facilities.

Charles Kingston: Mr. Mayer, the self storage business is currently booming in many European cities. Why is that?

Daniel Mayer: Mainly due to two developments: Firstly, living space is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. Many people simply don’t have room anymore for everything that matters to them. Secondly, the demand for security and comfort is growing. Moreover, basements are hardly being built anymore, as construction has become very expensive. This lack of space naturally increases the demand. Self storage offers modern solutions – clean, dry, and easily accessible.

Kingston: How does this change the requirements for operators?

Mayer: Operators today need to offer more than just square meters behind a padlock. High-quality facilities are in demand with a professional appearance, well-thought-out access-controlled systems, and above all, flexibility. Users want 24/7 access, often digital. And operators need concepts that can be implemented efficiently and adapted as needed. This is more than just cosmetics: It's about perceived value and trust – because visual impressions store too. If you show your tenants that you are investing in smart systems and quality which represent to them your facility is clean, secure and organised, you create loyalty.

Kingston: What does this mean in concrete terms for planning partition walls?

Mayer: Our self storage partition walls are modular in design. This means we can make optimal use of existing buildings – whether it’s an underground garage, a warehouse, or an intermediate floor. Most of the elements are prefabricated, while others are custom-made. This allows installation to proceed very quickly – usually within a few days. At the same time, the walls can be dismantled or reconfigured whenever needed.

Kingston: So, in a sense, it’s a construction kit for self storage?

Mayer: Exactly. The modular approach is a decisive advantage. Operators can grow their offering without having to reinvest in everything. And they remain flexible in case the use of space changes.

Kingston: Many competitors in this field promote that they deliver everything from a single source. What sets Gerhardt Braun apart?

Mayer: We accompany projects very individually. Every site is different, and every operator has their own priorities. We see ourselves not just as a manufacturer but as a partner. This starts with needs analysis and continues right through to turnkey delivery. Our team brings decades of experience from the field of classic partition wall construction, not only in the self storage area. This expertise is extremely valuable when it comes to special requirements. Thanks to our extensive network, we can connect our clients directly with the relevant trades – such as fire protection, ventilation, climate control, accessibility, or burglary protection. This allows us to offer an all-round solution.

Kingston: How important is the visual appearance of the facility?

Mayer: Very important. Self storage thrives on trust. Anyone storing their belongings wants to feel secure. That’s why we place great value on a high-quality appearance: bright colours, clean lines, precise workmanship – all of this signals to the user that quality matters here. Many operators also use individual colour concepts and branding elements to make their brand visible.

Kingston: What about sustainability?

Mayer: Durability is a core argument. Our partition walls are made of galvanized sheet steel that is extremely robust and corrosion resistant. This means they last for decades without maintenance costs. And since the modules can be dismantled and reused elsewhere at any time, this approach not only conserves resources but also contributes to reduced operating costs, an area that is becoming progressively more significant in the financial planning of self storage facilities.

Kingston: Could you give us an example of how such a project unfolds?

Mayer: Of course. Take, for example, a vacant warehouse in a city like Zurich, Amsterdam or Munich. The operator comes to us with a floor plan and often just a rough idea: they want to offer self storage but don’t know how best to subdivide the space.

We first examine the structural conditions – ceiling heights, basic fire protection requirements, lighting, accessibility etc. Based on that, we develop a concept: What unit sizes are needed? How many corridors? Where are the emergency exits? Then we calculate the materials, create 2D visualizations, and support the construction all the way through to handover.

Kingston: Where do you currently see the greatest growth markets?

Mayer: In metropolitan areas and their surrounding regions. Residential space becomes increasingly expensive and people therefore rely on external storage options to optimize the use of their homes. But projects are also emerging in more rural or industrial areas – often in combination with garage parks or commercial spaces. The demand is there; it just manifests differently from region to region.

Kingston: Self storage is often seen as a niche. Would you agree?

Mayer: No, not anymore. We’re talking about a market that will grow significantly in the coming years. Almost anywhere in Europe there is a consistently growing demand. Experiences from the advanced market development in some countries like the UK or the United States clearly demonstrate this. There, self storage has long been an established part of the real estate landscape. The same is occurring increasingly in continental Europe for quite some time with various layers of operators and their concepts. The more operators also invest in raising awareness of their storage solutions, the faster progress is made to catch up with the more established markets.

Kingston: If you had to sum it up – what is the most important success factor?

Mayer: Flexibility. Operators need to be able to respond quickly: to demand, to new user groups, to changing uses of space. A modular, durable partition wall system is the best foundation for this. And that’s exactly what we provide – combined with personal advice and decades of experience.

Kingston: Thank you!

More information: Gerhardt Braun RaumSysteme

Event details: Conference on Drive-Up Storage and Garage Parks