Bernd Schmutz Architekten

Invited competition for a pair of houses at the heart of Berlin
Opposite the listed heritage buildings of 'Rotes Rathaus' and Molkenmarkt.
In collaboration with Thomas Kröger Architekten
Gross areas: 2350 sqm + 1350 sqm.
Team BSA:
Niklas Lenz, Michal Sefranek, Linus Hagedorn, Bernd Schmutz

The design for the two houses at the heart of Berlin is held together by an urban idea to support using the city, as an experience, as a permeable structure that connects the streets with the network of courtyards and with the option for flexilbe programming. Both buildings together act as a pair, sharing similarities but also differences. The large building by Thomas Kröger architects is making the corner with a generous arcade as a public foyer and a stack of open floor plans above, topped with a public room overlooking the city.  The smaller building by Bernd Schmutz Architekten embeds a large public passage as a link into the courtyard but also as a shared al-fresco-hall to enter both buildings, each of them with the same large open stair, naturally lit by the courtyard.
The slim construction with timber ceilings and the cores have been laid out to enable both office and housing units. The two street facades share the same palette of materials with different articulations, both aiming for a simple construction and a reduced carbon-footprint. The simple yet delicate facades are made with a thin outer shell from local stone, timer ceilings and an inner timber framework layer filled with hemp insulation. Like in many other Berlin Höfe, the courtyard facade unifies both buildings with a lively tiled skin, dripping over the green balconies of the planted terraced cascade.