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.

design and planning for the interior of an engineering office

For Schöne Neue Welt, an engineering office for structural and façade planning (www.snw-ing.de), a customised interior concept was developed for the new location. The frame is provided by a textile zoning concept: coloured and greige curtains structure the rooms subtly and effectively. The entrance areas on either side of the staircase are clad in restrained shades of grey, while the three adjoining meeting rooms are each characterised by their own colour scheme.

A sculptural bar table welcomes visitors in the entrance hall – as a central gesture of greeting. It invites both informal exchanges with guests and internal dialogue and provides space for all employees to gather. Its geometry follows the flow of movement in the room and creates an elegant interplay of volume, cantilevering and load transfer. The flamingo colour lends the piece of furniture additional lightness and presence.

In two smaller meeting rooms – designed for discussions between two or three people or for online meetings – tables at different heights (sitting and standing height) and with warm wooden surfaces form a platform for focussed communication by organically placing the participants in relation to each other and to the screen.

In the central work area, an elongated sideboard provides a sculptural counterpoint to the rhythmic arrangement of the desks. It integrates technical infrastructure, storage space in the form of cupboards and open shelves and transforms into a small bench at one end. At the other end, the furniture builds an upper protrusion into the room – like a small bar – which can be used both as a meeting place while standing and as a reading desk.

All furniture is developed specifically for a particular location, but can easily be reused in other places. They are made from wood or wood-based materials. Both the bar table in the entrance area and the sideboard are coated with a cradle-to-cradle-certified lacquer. The sustainability claim is thus taken into account.

All of the individually designed pieces of furniture are characterised by polygonal geometries that alter their shape as you move through the room: New worlds are created through a change of perspective.

realisation:
- bar table and sideboard: Kathrein Tischlerei und Innenausbau Gmbh, www.tischlerei-kathrein.de
- meeting room tables: Der Raum Tischlerei, www.der-raum.de
- made-to-measure curtains: Unique Factory, www.unique-factory.com, with fabrics from kvadrat

concept for the interior design of an apartment

A concept for a completely new interior design was developed for a traditional flat in the Foners neighbourhood of Palma de Mallorca. The classic division of rooms along a corridor was broken up and instead an elongated, central living and dining area was created, which connects to both terraces and allows light and views across them as well as access to them. The adjoining bedroom, which is also connected to the eastern terrace, is separated from the living area by a sliding glass wall, creating a generous sequence of rooms. The bathroom in turn has an open connection to the bedroom. Curtains provide the desired privacy. A separate guest room with its own bathroom can be accessed from the entrance corridor and is orientated towards an atrium.

The central living space is characterised by a white, sculptural figure that integrates all functions: kitchen and cooking island with extractor bonnet, dining table, sofa landscape as well as direct and indirect lighting. The result is a continuously framed space with a variety of perspectives that creates a contemporary, Mediterranean atmosphere. This atmosphere is supported by the sun-yellow colouring of the surrounding wall, which contrasts with the view of the blue sky over Mallorca. The all-round indirect lighting is complemented by spotlights and a light sculpture.

concept for the restructuring and upgrading of a building ensemble

In the old town centre of a suburb of Karlsruhe, a concept was developed for an artist couple to connect, restructure and upgrade the heterogeneous structure of a small baroque residential building and a studio extension from 2005.

The roofs of the two existing buildings as well as the existing staggered heights of the existing rooms form a very inhomogeneous ensemble that appears both cramped and labyrinthine in use.

By carefully levelling the usage levels and inserting a winter garden on the top floor, this ensemble has been reunited and given a new centrepiece.

The geometry of the winter garden ties in with the respective roof geometries, thus mediating between them and creating a connected whole. The character of the winter garden is also inspired by the classic motif of the studio window. The result is a highly attractive, sheltered space that also connects the attic levels of the residential building and studio. The internal textile sun protection and the generously openable glass surfaces allow the connections to the surroundings to be optimised in terms of light, sunlight and acoustics.

On the upper floor level, the interior spaces are generously opened up to the outside and extended by a terrace in front, creating a spacious living landscape from the currently cramped and angled situation. The terrace also provides protection for the courtyard below and lower access to the studio, while the terrace itself creates a more attractive access situation to the residential building and the main level of the studio.

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.

planning for the conversion of a workshop hall into a spinning studio, design by runne

On the premises of Heidestraße No. 46-52, a detached industrial hall, a former motorbike workshop, has been converted into a spinning studio with an urban indoor cycling concept. Cycle Room Berlin is an extension of CFM CrosssFit Mitte Berlin by Lars Runne, which has been located in a neighbouring hall on the site for years.

Cycle Room Berlin’s hall is two-storey in one part, but single-storey in the larger part over a clear height of 6 metres. Fifteen spinning bikes have been installed in the hall for use as a spinning studio. The rooms on the upper floor serve as back of house. The hall itself is at ground level and has two exits and a sliding gate, each of which leads directly to the outside.

Cycle Room Berlin offers urban rhythm and the pulse of Berlin in one of the last commercial areas in Europa City.