Hines, the international real estate firm, announced that Gehry Partners has won an architectural competition for a new 300-unit residential tower in Berlin, Germany.
The development, which is owned by Hines, will be located at the D4 construction site between Hackescher Markt, Friedrichshain, and Berlin-Mitte, adjacent to Hines’ recently developed Die Mitte retail building.
Berlin’s first new high-rise residential development since the 1970s, the project will rise to a maximum height of 492 feet, likely becoming the tallest building in Berlin and the tallest residential building in all of Germany. It will contain approximately 500,000 square feet, will include small apartments and penthouses, and a portion of the tower will house a hotel.
This project represents the third time Hines has worked with Gehry Partners. The firm also designed Hines’ DZ Bank in Berlin and the New World Center in Miami Beach, FL, for which Hines served as development manager.
In order to find the best possible urban and architectural design solution for this important location, Hines, under an agreement with the Senate Department for Urban Development and the Environment as well as the Berlin-Mitte District Council, invited nine national and international architects to take part in an architectural competition in May 2013.
Participants were Adjaye Associates (London, UK); Architectonica (Miami, USA); Barkow Leibinger Architects (Berlin, GER); BE Berlin (Berlin, GER); David Chipperfield Architects (London/Berlin, UK/GER); Gehry Partners, LLP (Santa Monica, USA); Ingenhoven Architects (Dusseldorf, GER); Kleihues + Kleihues Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH (Berlin, GER); and Prof. Kollhof Generalplanungs-GmbH (Berlin, GER).
Following the first assessment in November 2013, four firms–Barkow Leibinger Architects, Gehry Partners, Ingenhoven Architects and Kleihues + Kleihues–were asked to refine their designs for a second and final phase of the competition.
On January 23, 2014, a panel of judges decided on the architectural and urban design qualities of the submissions. The panel, chaired by Prof. Peter P. Schweger, included, among others: Regula Lüscher, Senate Building Director; Kristina Laduch, Head of the City Planning Department Berlin-Mitte; and Christoph Reschke and Alexander Möll, co-managing directors of Hines Immobilien GmbH.
Reschke explains, “The quality of the designs submitted was extremely high and reflected the importance of this prominent location in the center of Berlin. This place has a strong symbolic character and will develop into a metropolitan residential and retail area. In order to transform the square, we want to take a chance on something new and exceptional.”
The experts came to the conclusion that Gehry Partners’ solution was the most compelling for this central location. The winning design convinced the jury with its sculptural interpretation, achieved by rotating a number of cubes that relate to many of the city’s focal points, in particular the neighboring Karl-Marx-Allee. With its exceptional form, the building develops a completely new architectural language. In addition, the jury was enthusiastic about the harmonious design of the elevations and the stone used for the building façades.
Regula Lüscher, Senate Building Director, commented, “Gehry’s design is strong in visual expression and introduces an unusually eccentric, new pattern for this location. Nevertheless, the façade radiates agreeable tranquility. In addition, the design blends well with the neighborhood and conveys all aspects of metropolitan living.”
Second place was awarded to Kleihues + Kleihues Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, and third place was awarded to Barkow Leibinger Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH.
The designs presented by the competition winners will be publicly exhibited in the annex to the Lichthof at Köllnischer Park 3, 10179 Berlin, from January 27 to February 12, 2014. The exhibition will be open from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Hines opened its first office outside the U.S. in Berlin in 1991, and today employs more than 50 real estate professionals in Germany’s most important cities. Some of the projects completed and managed by Hines Germany include: Die Mitte-Shopping am Alexanderplatz, Upper Eastside Berlin, Sony Center Berlin, Benrather Karree in Düsseldorf, Uptown München in Munich, Hofstatt in Munich, Siemens Headquarters in Munich and Postquartier in Stuttgart. Hines has acquired, developed and is now managing approximately 10.7 million square feet in Germany.
Related Stories
University Buildings | Jun 9, 2022
IDEA Factory at U. of Maryland defies gravity
The E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory at the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering has a gravity-defying form: The seven-story building’s solid upper floors emerge above the lighter, mostly glass base.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 9, 2022
Cityview's Adam Perry on multifamily housing innovation in the Western U.S.
Adam Perry, SVP of Development and Construction Management with developer Cityview, chats with Multifamily Design+Construction Editor Rob Cassidy about the latest design and construction innovations for multifamily housing in the West.
Libraries | Jun 8, 2022
Welcome to the hybrid library
Libraries have grown to become the intellectual and social hubs of campus, where, prior to March 2020, students, researchers, and faculty gathered to collaborate and connect.
Building Team | Jun 8, 2022
Alastair MacGregor to lead WSP USA Property and Buildings Business
Alastair (Aly) MacGregor has been named the executive business line leader for Property and Buildings at WSP USA, one of the nation’s largest engineering and professional services consultancies.
Codes and Standards | Jun 8, 2022
Florida Legislature passes bill requiring stricter condominium inspection
The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill to beef up building inspection requirements for many of the state’s condominiums.
Office Buildings | Jun 8, 2022
Former L.A. Times newsroom/printing plant remade into office campus
Phase 1 of The Press, an adaptive reuse project that is converting an old Los Angeles Times facility into a modern office campus, was recently completed in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Codes and Standards | Jun 7, 2022
FEMA launches National Initiative to Advance Building Codes
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has launched a new government-wide effort to boost national resiliency and reduce energy costs.
Plumbing | Jun 7, 2022
Sloan launches ‘Sinks Beyond the Restroom’ innovation
Sloan, the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial plumbing systems, has launched its ‘Sinks Beyond the Restroom’ concept.
Building Team | Jun 7, 2022
Announcing construction inclusion week 2022: October 17-21, 2022
Save the date for Construction Inclusion Week 2022: October 17-21, 2022.
University Buildings | Jun 7, 2022
Newfoundland university STEM building emulates natural elements, local traditions
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) recently opened a new building that will provide interdisciplinary learning and research space for Faculties of Science and Engineering.
