Reanimation

In Berlin, we gave a 1970s industrial building a new skin and a new lease of life. Built as a functional building, it followed its function: Staff area on the lower ground floor, naturally lit by the shape of the topography, a big delivery hall with machine shop on the ground floor and offices on the first floor. A lot of daylight everywhere. A clear grid with strong beams to keep the space free of any columns, exposed concrete without any visual requirements. The vacant house was stripped to its core, but the skinnings with the rough concrete of the structure, the skylights, the staircase with its terrazzo tiles and, with an ironic wink, the flag polls in the front yard remained visible. Now a second skin was added. The building received a mineral insulation and a timber cladding with rough boards glazed in black. The new skin unifies the former moultings as well as the different building volumes. Various widths of the boards prevent the windows from cut outs.