In the heart of Wedding, a residential oasis surrounded by greenery is being created on a former commercial site. In the immediate vicinity of the lively Leopoldplatz, our new residential building occupies a spacious property, quiet and hidden behind the first row of houses on Nazarethkirchstrasse. Fun fact: originally OOW was only asked to design to medical practices on the site by the client!
The plot, occupied by commercial buildings, offered far more potential than had been envisaged before our commission. In its generous footprint we saw room for something new — something to meet the needs of the present and make the most of the location.
Berlin's housing market grows tighter by the day, the demand ever greater.
Our proposal turns the neglected commercial yard into a lucrative option for the landowner, transforming six times the previously used area into affordable living space in a peaceful setting.
With planning skill, we designed a handsome façade that remains economical despite its compositional detailing. Combined with efficiently laid-out floor plans, the result is appealing living space pitched to Wedding's rent levels.
The vision was not only met with enthusiasm by the owner – who had originally only requested the conversion to two doctor's surgeries within the existing building – but was also positively received by the town planning department.
The façade reads as calm and flowing, its soft curves wrapping around the individual residential blocks. Storey by storey, horizontal lines encircle the buildings, hugging the staggered balconies like an elastic band. Balconies and balustrades alike are fully integrated into the façade. The harmonious appearance is rounded off by always grouping two windows together. At night, discreet lighting features accent the façade and show late returnees the way.
The complex does far more than meet the minimum requirements of the German Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV), and with its highly ecological construction it even achieves the KfW 55 standard.
The building has five entrances, each with its own lift, through which future residents reach the 130 flats in total. To spare them the search for parking and to keep the courtyard free of car traffic, a generous underground car park is being created below ground. All ground-floor flats have a private garden with a terrace, which — thanks to its sheltered position — becomes a small private retreat. But the other residents and the children from the flats above can also let off steam in the shared communal areas and on the playground, and make new friends among the neighbours.
