GEM | Extension to a historical industrial complex
The building GEM, an extension of a 19th century industrial building in the heritage-listed Gebauer-Höfe courtyards in Berlin, has created a new urban element featuring office and exhibition spaces. The project’s objective was to sensitively develop a site with a rich history without losing its characteristic structure and atmosphere. At the same time, the design was guided by principles of resource-efficient land use and the integration of urban, architectural, and social quality.
The historic 19th-century industrial complex is defined by brick facades, an organically evolved building layout, and its location along the River Spree. The new building occupies the former site of a structure destroyed during the war, thereby reinforcing the area's historic spatial settings.
The new five-story building connects to two existing firewalls and integrates precisely into the existing built fabric. A key component of the concept is the use of the heritage-listed staircase; modernizing it and adding an accessible elevator eliminated the need for a separate circulation structure. This saves resources, minimizes intervention in the historic fabric, and links several of the site's buildings into a functional unit.
The new office space benefits from generous ceiling heights of up to four meters, open floor plans, and a floor-to-ceiling glass facade. A rooftop terrace accessible from all sides expands the available space. Thus, the project goes beyond merely providing workspaces; it also creates spatial qualities that foster interaction, social engagement, and a sense of identity.
In this project, sustainability is not defined solely by isolated technical measures. This is evident above all in the decision to develop an inner-city site, utilize existing infrastructure, and integrate a building capable of long-term adaptation into the existing urban fabric. Furthermore, a combined heat and power unit in the inner courtyard provides the building with heating and cooling efficiently. The ventilation concept combines natural and mechanical systems, allowing operations to respond flexibly to varying uses and climatic conditions. The technical systems thus support both energy efficiency and the quality of use.
Part of the project was creating several new passageways within the larger courtyard, of which two are already completed, including the main entrance to the court, cladded in green gradient tiles.
