An innovative solution to the limitations imposed by both an infill and repair strategy and stringent building regulations requiring 5-storeys – our design fused housing block and corner tower to amalgamate residential, commercial and social program elements within a unique structure.
In creating new social housing for IBA Berlin we faced two fundamental issues – an imposed infill and repair strategy; tight building regulations for social housing, which contradicted modern, open-plan solutions.
In addition, surrounding buildings represented a wide range of different types and periods, making it virtually impossible to make a seamless ‘insertion’, required to contain an ‘average’ of 5-storeys.
We honoured this restriction by creating a long, 3-storey block, terminating in an 8-storey tower at its outer corner. Lower floors contain commercial premises, with standardized dwellings above; the roof functions as both garden and children’s playground. The sculpted tower, clad in anodized sheet metal houses three wedge-shaped loft dwellings on each floor.
ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Zaha Hadid
Stefan Schroth
Zaha Hadid with Michael Wolfson, David Gomersall, Piers Smerin, David Winslow, Paivi Jaaskelainen
