FRIEDRICHSTRASSE
BERLIN - MITTE

On the historic Friedrichstraße, between Tacheles and the Charité Campus, a newly conceived commercial building ensemble is being built that expands the historic building with contemporary architecture. The design responds sensitively to the urban environment, balancing the historic building with contemporary development. The building ensemble is divided into an existing front building facing the busy Friedrichstraße and a new building within the block, facing the quiet, green rear area. The new building is structurally connected to the front building by two side wings. The project combines renovation, redesign, and new construction, creating a tension between tradition and contemporary representation. The redesign of the street façade, with its impressive natural stone base, conveys a sense of solidity and elegance. In deliberate contrast, the clinker brick façade of the historic building in the inner courtyard emphasizes the site's industrial history. The connection between new and old is achieved through fine proportions, coordinated material changes, and a clear structure. The front building will have a new attic, which is intended as a modern extension of the existing building. The silhouette of the roof is characterized by generous, distinctive skylights that channel daylight deep into the office spaces while simultaneously emphasizing the dynamics of the roofscape. A central component of the design is the representative inner courtyard, which serves as an urban entrance and creates a high-quality access point. As a semi-public space, it connects the individual building sections and simultaneously provides a pleasant atmosphere. A glazed skywalk in the side wing provides the vertical and horizontal connection between the historic front building and the new building. The elevator shafts along this skywalk are clad in stucco marble—a design element that combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. Inside, the building opens up into spacious, flexibly configurable office units that can be used in a variety of ways across all floors. Large windows provide ample natural light and allow for a variety of room layouts. A special highlight is the two-story auditorium in the new building. Designed for lectures, conferences, and public events, it makes the building a future-oriented place for work, exchange, and inspiration.