project management preliminary planning, design and permission planning for a new two-storey attic extension for a private residence renovation of the façade and renovation and extension of a coach house for GRAFT architects

The two-storey new attic construction replaces the existing roof and creates a separate maisonette with a clear spatial identity above the fourth floor. Access is via the existing staircases and an additional external lift on the courtyard side. A recessed patio on the sixth floor creates a sheltered outdoor space and gives the upper level a striking spatial centre.

The façades of the maisonette respond in a distinguished manner to their context: on the street side, pilaster-like elements structure the view with reference to the existing façade and frame generous panoramic windows, while on the courtyard side, a calm perforated façade ensures uniform lighting. The continuous cladding with sand-coloured fibre cement panels creates a homogeneous, contemporary building envelope. The existing street-facing façade is stripped of its subsequently applied plaster and the curtain wall masonry façade is carefully supplemented and limewashed. The windows are given contemporary frames and the base is given a contemporary interpretation of a bossed façade. The street façade as a whole thus references the structure of the neighbouring building with its base, upper floors and roof zone. The courtyard-facing masonry façades were simply cleaned and refurbished.

The new maisonette is being constructed using a hybrid design combining reinforced concrete, masonry and steel frames. The acoustic concept is a key planning motif: the new attic apartment is completely decoupled from the existing building in terms of sound. Elastomer bearings, floating superstructures and a sound-optimised roof construction minimise sound transmission and, at the client’s request, allow intensive use of the rooms – even with increased acoustic requirements.

The energy concept is based on the principle of maximum self-sufficiency. A photovoltaic system supplies the heat pump for heating and cooling, while a blind drain in the unsealed courtyard contributes to sustainable rainwater management. The project combines design precision, structural care and technical performance to create a contemporary form of redensification.

The historic back premises (Building II) are being carefully transformed into office space and supplemented with precisely positioned new buildings. The access, supporting structure and building envelope are being functionally reorganised, while the characteristic masonry façade in the courtyard is being preserved and further developed. The design follows the guiding principle of preserving the substance of the building, combining the existing structure with contemporary additions to create a clearly structured ensemble. The office spaces ensure functional, barrier-free and light-optimised workspaces. Sustainability and rainwater management are integral parts of the design, including green roofs and infiltration ditches in the unsealed courtyard.

The construction project is located in the Gräfekiez conservation area in Berlin. The planning takes into account the urban development and design objectives of the conservation ordinance, particularly with regard to scale, materiality and depth of intervention. The planned measures were coordinated in advance with the responsible authorities to ensure that the structural additions are compatible with the character of the area, which is worthy of protection.

project management for design, planning and artistic site management for a pediatric centre in ethiopia for GRAFT architects

The Zahara Children Centre is a pediatric clinic for HIV/AIDS and TB Care. In 2011, Global Health Committee broke ground on the Zahara Children Centre in Sebeta on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The centre uses the integrated Maddox model: the HIV counseling manual for children and expertise learned at the ground level in Cambodia, to address the needs of HIV infected and affected children in Ethiopia. Given the crushing burden of TB in Ethiopia, the centre will also have a major focus on children infected with TB and will serve as a Centre of Excellence for drug-resistant TB care for children. The Zahara Children Centre is being built using local sustainable materials: adobe and bamboo. The project was designed with oversight from Brad Pitt and funded by the Jolie-Pitt-Foundation.

client: Global Health Committee
partner: Harvard Medical School, Dr. Anne Goldfeld,
consultants: RAAS Architects Addis Abeba, ZRS Architekten Ingenieure Berlin
subsidies: Jolie Pitt Foundation

project management for construction planning, tendering and artistic site management for a private villa for GRAFT architects

project management for preliminary planning, design planning, permission planning, construction planning and artistic supervision of the renovation and new construction of a youth hostel for GRAFT architects

Meeting place between origins and departure

The Bavarian association of German youth hostels invited five architecture offices to design the modernization of one of Germany’s oldest hostels located in the centre of Munich. Primary focus was given to the extension of the existing building with an innovative and high quality design that embodies the fundamental values of the association in a new way.

GRAFT’s winning concept highlights the idea of “Experiencing Community” in which modern architecture plays a central role in enabling exchange and communication while simultaneously remaining true to the principles of travelling simply, youthful curiosity and the thirst for encounters. In the context of changing habits and practices, the new youth hostel builds a bridge between origins and departure and presents itself with innovative design, especially in the interior spaces.

The design proposes relocating the main entrance of the new youth hostel to face “Winthirplatz”. A new building closes off the perimeter block, its calm, regular façade respecting the characteristics of the district. In its face, however, a two-story amorphous lobby has been carved, creating a dramatic entrance space that simultaneously announces the building to its surroundings. Natural elements of the square and the inner courtyard are translated into an amorphous, landscaped architecture that ties together the indoor and outdoor spaces. The materials relate to regional construction methods.

The complex is large enough to host numerous visitors at the same time and symbolises the basic idea of “Experiencing Community”: the design intentionally combines the functions of the lobby, dining room and seminar spaces into a joint interior space.

The rooms are the second major identifying factor for this new generation youth hostel, combining modern design and flexible room arrangements with robust functionality.

The façade of the historic old building at the Wendl-Dietrich-Straße will be renovated in accordance with conservation guidelines. The distinctive arches at the entrance will be made usable by means of glazed fronts. The entire youth hostel is designed for disabled access, making all its qualities available to everyone.

GRAFT’s proposal was chosen over those from the following offices: haascookzemmrich (Stuttgart), Snøhetta (Oslo) und YES Architecture (Munich).

Awards

2014               German Design Awards, special mention

project management for concept design, schematic design and permission planning for the partial demolition, renovation and new construction of an office and hotel building for GRAFT architects

On the grounds of the Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade (1986, Jürgen Sawade), a new ensemble comprising a refurbished hotel and an office building is being developed. The eastern wing of the existing structure will be preserved, comprehensively modernised, and continue to operate as a hotel. The southern wing, along with parts of the ground floor, will make way for a new building.

The new office building adjoins the hotel section and extends, in boundary-aligned construction, all the way to the Lützowufer. This restores the block configuration of the historic Dörnberg Triangle, thereby re-establishing clear urban edges along Lützowstraße, Lützowplatz and Lützowufer, in continuity with the surrounding block structures. At the same time, a series of terraced setbacks opens the new building ensemble towards the Landwehr Canal, creating a green plaza with landscaped terraces, courtyards and roof gardens. This landscape design connects the built form to the public realm and provides visual links to the water and the city. At the same time, the long block frontage is articulated and responds to distinctive neighbouring buildings such as the Bauhaus Archive and the Villa von der Heydt.

The varied thematic planting of the terraces on each level creates, in aggregate, a diverse vegetation structure across different heights on large flora and fauna steps. Beginning with the canal’s waterside zone and its planned wetland flora, the greenery extends upwards through the stepped building volumes to the upper roof and terrace levels, where the planting evokes the image of a verdant, blooming mountain landscape.

The terraces and rooftop areas provide valuable, multifunctional spaces for the office users and hotel guests alike – offering opportunities for work, movement, sport and play, gastronomy, as well as contemplative and restorative outdoor retreat.

In the lower courtyards above the underground car park and the ground floor, shaded and moist garden landscapes planted with mosses and ferns are planned, interspersed with large moisture-loving bald cypress trees.

The ground and first floors will accommodate new public uses such as fitness facilities, conference areas, and a restaurant opening onto Lützowstraße and Lützowplatz. In this way, the ensemble is both functionally and programmatically integrated into the surrounding neighbourhood.

Architecturally, the new building features a modular façade composed of conically tapering frames. Recessed loggias and façade elements of varying depths create a lively, almost textile-like effect. The rational grid of the office façade thus begins to subtly ripple across the building envelope like fabric or clothing. Terraces and setbacks lend the structure a human scale and strong spatial quality. In contrast to Sawade’s existing L-shaped building, which presents itself as quite hermetic at its ends and somewhat uninviting in the urban context, the new development not only opens up programmatically to the neighbourhood but also activates and opens its façade towards the Lützowplatz to the west.

The refurbished hotel wing remains recognisable in its original structure but receives a new ceramic façade cladding. Windows and proportions are carefully renewed in respect of the 1986 architecture. Narrow openings in the north façade offer views towards the canal and Tiergarten. An additional rooftop extension adopts the design language of the new façade, seamlessly integrating the existing structure into the overall ensemble.

A comprehensive drainage concept has been developed for the roof surfaces: all roofs function as retention roofs, discharging into a cistern and infiltration trench once the storage level is reached. The system is smart-controlled and can return water for irrigation as needed, thus fully meeting the requirements of the “sponge city” principle. The building is connected to district heating. The office spaces in the new building are designed with radiators and concrete core activation within the reinforced concrete ceilings. In accordance with the Berlin Photovoltaic Act, photovoltaic systems are planned on the roof surfaces, positioned to avoid interfering with the usability of the rooftop terraces. A LEED Platinum certification is planned for the building ensemble.

project management for concept design, schematic design and permission planning of an office and a hospitality building for GRAFT architects

A twin project with a complementary mix of office and hospitality space is being developed in the immediate vicinity of Berlin’s Ostkreuz: LYNX STAY and LYNX WORK. Planned as a timber hybrid building, the project combines today’s requirements for modern working and living with sustainable architecture.

Viewed from its corners, the building’s regular rhythm of protruding bay windows forms a circumferential façade relief that gives the impression of a series of stacked, space-creating volumes, similar to traditional wooden joints.

Both buildings are designed as a hybrid wood structure over a basement and a first floor of reinforced concrete. Visible wooden surfaces also shape the interior spaces, which extend into the urban space through the numerous bay windows.

In addition to the flexibility and variability of its floor plans, LYNX’s façade extends from the inside to the outside, becoming a boundary that can be crossed. These protrusions are an ideal place for phone calls, video conferences, quick, informal meetings, or as break-out spaces, and act as a counterpoint to the spatial logic of the open-plan areas.

The façade thus evolves from a hard, impenetrable layer into a living building envelope.

The location offers a wide range of leisure and cultural activities in a green, lively neighborhood where people enjoy working and living. The infrastructure of the buildings is complemented by a café on the ground floor, spacious foyers and sunken courtyards which provide light to the lower floors. Roof terraces on both buildings also invite people to relax and enjoy community activities.

project management for design, permission planning and artistic site management for a new roof with two attic floors in munich for GRAFT architects

For this project the roof of an existing building from 1908 in Munich-Schwabing has been replaced by a slightly higher kerb roof, thus creating an additional floor for office spaces. The new roof continues the contour of its neighbour along the street and leads it around the corner away from the street. On the northern and western side, the roof is opened with dormer windows in an elegant contemporary interpretation. The positions of the dormer windows respond to the structure of the windows on the lower floors. Bay windows and staircase are emphasized by similar elements at the top. The new structure responds respectfully to the existing context but is clearly readable as a new condition. The main motif of the bay window frames is also applied to the new entrance which opens up the existing lobby and makes it more ample and inviting.

project management for design, planning and artistic site management of an interior in vienna for GRAFT architects

We developed the interior for the ground floor and an orangery-like annex of an old urban villa in the third district in Vienna in a sophisticated dialogue between old and new. Foyer, living room and an art aisle establish a loop-like gallery space mainly kept in white. An old staircase no longer in use that has been transformed into a library forms the center of this loop. The art aisle has mirrors on both sides and in this way replicates the exhibits to a multitude. And there are more mirrors: Wardrobe and toilet are hidden behind mirrors containing a one-way-mirror, allowing a view from the toilet to the entrance hall. Mirrors also widen the passage from living room to former loggia. From the loop of white spaces the saloon and dining hall emerge like treasure chests in which the play of light and reflecting surfaces is varied in combination with darker surfaces and dark furniture. In the old passage between living room and dining hall a glass cabinet for the collection of silver plates has been integrated. The one-way-mirrors on either side allow a view from both spaces, but no vista from the one to the other. In the saloon the white walls and floor are combined with black wall textile and a bar that hides the television behind a magic mirror. In the orangery the elegantly curved kitchen furniture, built from dark wenge wood, dominates the space and continues as an eating area with a custom-designed table and as barbecue grill.

design, planning, tendering and site management of a restaurant in hackesches quartier berlin for GRAFT architects

woka’licious – from ‚wok’ and ‚delicious’ – is Thai fusion cuisine from finest ingredients. Situated in the heart of Berlin-Mitte in the just accomplished ‘Hackesches Quartier’, the spatial concept reflects the character of the menu: light, organic and natural, in a balance of diversity and clarity. While open to square and street with ample shop windows, the restaurant’s back wall is carried out as a horizontally structured wooden relief, which in materiality, curvature and stacking reminds us of the characteristic bamboo steamer baskets in which the delicious dim sums, a typical Asian dish in small portions linked with the tradition of tea tasting, are prepared and served. Swinging from the entrance along the whole length of the restaurant, the relief connects its three main parts: The main dining area (dining) in the western part, the central bar with a double counter and open show kitchen (short stay) and the lounge-like ‘private dining’ in the back part (relaxing) with seating bench and lounge chairs. The lounge can be partitioned by a curtain and used separately by groups in a flexible way. Reflective film on the narrow sides of the wooden relief result in brightly illuminating reflexes according to the standpoint of the beholder and the exposure to light, subtle zest in the predominantly mild and natural mix of materials. Apart from soft indirect lighting, the protruding light object Ameba focuses on the central gallery of tables in the main dining area. Against the light natural materials in the dining area, the lavatories’ dark almost black materials form a strong contrast to the accentuating gold of glass mosaic tiles, wallpapers and painted surfaces.

project management for schematic design, design development, tender documents for a residential quarter for GRAFT architects

The proposal for a new residential quarter, located along the promenade of the Mtkvari River, below “Rose revolution Square”, the Heart of the city center of Tbilisi, is based on the main characteristics of the site which geologically derived from the historical situation of the estuary of a smaller river into the Mtkvari. The project arranges a new residential quarter in a differentiated mix of 311 apartments of various sizes in combination with high-quality retail areas on the lower floors, a small proportion of office areas as well as underground parking for apartments and shops. The landscaped character of the whole ensemble embeds the architecture in a natural way into the surrounding green zone and provides high-quality living in a green surrounding while being in the heart of the metropolis. The lower part of the development is split up into two meandering pieces thus becoming part of the new park and allowing views into and out of the area. The upper part of the ensemble develops along the slope of the terrain and re-stages the existing ‘Sakanela Road’ in terraced shapes, establishing ‘Sakanela Square’, the quarter’s own plaza, at its lower end. A high rise residential building on this side of the plot provides the new development with a landmark building, marking the end of Galaktioni Bridge. The high-rise provides apartments with stunning views to the lower areas of the city and the snow-capped mountains of the Caucasus in the background. The elegant silhouette of the high-rise swings along the street in a smooth torsion – away from neighbouring buildings and towards the river. The façade design for sakanela urban landscape brings about a subtle diversification of the building volumes, playing on the theme of the urban landscape with its mix of materials, the diversity of balcony and loggia situations and its manifold esthetic appearances.