MVRDV / Hirschmüller Schindele Architekten

Description

HAUS 1 is the latest project to be completed within Atelier Gardens, a 23,800-square-metre creative film and impact campus in Berlin. Once plain grey, the building, dating from 1997, is now a sunshine yellow all over, drawing attention to the campus from both near and far. From the central garden of Atelier Gardens, a zig-zagging yellow stair-scape, dotted with seating and viewing platforms framing views of Tempelhofer Feld and the Berlin skyline, leads directly to the building’s roof. There, the building has been extended with a timber pavilion of cross-laminated prefab modules, using bio-based materials and healthy finishes, such as a clay ceiling. A living roof of native plants completes the newly accessible rooftop, which now also serves to collect rainwater, feeding into a comprehensive water retention system implemented on-site. This green landscaping, new roof insulation, and sunshades on the building’s two glass façades reduce heat gain in the summer, while low-temperature underfloor heating moderates the indoor climate in the cold months. All lighting has been converted to energy-efficient LED systems, and the sanitary fittings are all water efficient. HAUS 1 hosts adaptive work and meeting spaces across four floors, and a café. The floorplans have been altered to maximise the building’s flexibility, simplifying future changes in use or layout, thus extending the building’s lifespan.