Smaller Projects & Infills

Smaller projects & Infills

After the unification, Berlin had many urban gaps and offered lots for reasonable prices. These inexpensive urban voids generated a large amount of experimental, innovative, people-centred architecture. Today, prices are higher, making such projects challenging. Often, such projects were Baugemeinschaften (pl.), which means that families went together to finance and build from scratch. The idea was unusual, started in Stuttgart, and initially encountered many setbacks. But the initiators soon convinced a few banks to lend money based only on architectural visualisations.

Below is just a selection. There are plenty more to see.

Spreefeld and similar sites

Close to the river, on an old, forgotten industrial site, Spreefeld was designed as a new type of living: inter-generational, co-living, versatile-living, combined with workspaces.

Wooden high-rise residential

CKA and other architectural studios have worked with wooden constructions for nearly 20 years. Previously, the strategy was expensive, but it has now gained more attention due to the increased awareness of sustainable building. Many projects in Berlin use a hybrid mix of sustainable materials, combining concrete with, for example, wood. The result is a significant reduction in concrete use, which is a solid sustainability strategy.

Blumenmarkt

The old flower market (2011-2019) was an architecturally challenging site. The final design creates a passage from Friedrichsstrasse to the Jewish Museum in a people-centred manner, where entrance floors communicate with the public space. The site has three innovative buildings with multifunctional, inter-generational, and commercial spaces. The architects focused on cultural spaces and activating public areas, drawing much inspiration from Jane Jacobs.