01.11.2024

Metropolenhaus wins the “Excellent Residential Construction” competition

Photo: Sebastian Wells

bfstudio-architekten have combined private residential use and communal project areas in the Metropolenhaus Am Jüdischen Museum in Berlin. The jury of the “Excellent Housing” competition found this a convincing idea.

The jury had to choose from a variety of projects in all sizes, price ranges and materials. In the end, a new building in Berlin took the prize in the “Excellent Residential Construction 2020” competition. The “Metropolenhaus Am Jüdischen Museum” by bfstudio-architekten was built on the former wholesale flower market site in the Kreuzberg district and accommodates 40 residential units, commercial space and restaurants. The real special feature of the building is the 400 square meter project rooms on the first floor, which are available for non-commercial use. Events are to be held here that generate added social value for the entire neighborhood. In this way, the building aims to assume responsibility as an active part of urban society and have a positive impact on its surroundings. The project rooms are financed by the owners of the 40 apartments. It was this concept that made the construction of the Metropolenhaus possible in the first place. The Berlin Senate did not sell the plot on the former wholesale flower market to the bidder who offered the highest price, but to the one who presented the most convincing concept for its use.

Photo: Sebastian Wells

Four facades, four faces

In terms of urban planning, the building marks the corner between Lindenstrasse and Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelsohn-Platz, which was newly created as part of the development of the area. The four façades of the building have a varied design: Towards Lindenstrasse, metal cladding dominates, with balconies and wall surfaces in front of them; towards Mendelsohn-Platz, the impression is dominated by floor-to-ceiling windows and two stepped recessed staggered storeys. On the garden side, the curtain balconies have the character of arcades, while on the narrow head side of the building, the cladding of large-format gray façade panels is only interrupted by a few window openings.

The jury for the “Excellent Residential Construction 2020” award particularly praised the fact that the architects not only acted as designers, but also played a leading role in developing the usage concept with its “active first floor”, which has an impact on the neighborhood. (fap)

A catalog with all the award-winning projects has been published for the competition:

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