Description

The silver-grey office building of the “The Box” lies “Am Salzufer” on the banks of the River Spree and was formerly the location of the club “Box@theBeach”. A hazy glow emits from the illuminated interiors behind the metal mesh screen covering the façade, while the letters “The Box” glow in neon-green on an upper story, a reminder of the now defunct club.

Three buildings of the Henkel company once stood on the site, which extends right up to the River Spree. Built in 1969 as warehouses, one was converted into a filling plant for cosmetics in 1980, and the other two closest to the river were later demolished after the site was sold. The filling plant was kept and converted for use as offices. The result is a building that retains its former industrial charm. Preserving the massive structure originally designed to sustain the load of heavy machinery, the architects retained the reinforced concrete skeleton with its double-I-joists and access staircases in the two opposite corners of the building that stiffen the structure, and added a further, set-back story. The ceiling of the third floor was renewed to make it capable of supporting the additional story. On this floor, the ceiling has a slatted ceiling while on the other floors the original ceiling construction has been left exposed. To bring light into the depths of the building, a new atrium was created in the centre of the plan, into which a new main staircase and two glass elevators have been inserted that provide access to the galleries and the offices. The walls to the offices are fully glazed from floor to ceiling, ensuring maximum light in the interior. The staircase adjoins the wall of the former five-ton freight elevator with a new exposed concrete wall separating it from the elevators. From the entrance one can see into the basement which was opened up to create two additional offices with direct ground-level access to the site sloping down to the Spree. The new tenants of these prominent offices are the architects themselves.

The atrium is reached directly from the entrance area. Looking upwards, the transition from old to new is clearly legible, with the existing concrete elements painted white and new additions left as exposed concrete. From here one can see through the glazed walls into almost all the other offices. The open transparency of the building has been positively received, and to date no one has installed privacy screens on the glazing facing the atrium.

Mounted a short distance in front of the external façade of the building is a veil-like outer screen made of expanded aluminium mesh. The screen is suspended from supports mounted on the roof of the third floor, making it possible to keep its detailing as delicate as possible. Between the screen and the silver-grey render of the external façade is a maintenance walkway. The canopy above the former delivery ramp comprises a sun-screen made of steel grating panels and is likewise enclosed by the expanded metal mesh. Only the section in front of the restaurant has no screen, while the former loading ramp now serves as the restaurant terrace.

The expanded metal mesh of the façade (mesh size 30 × 10 cm) is mostly an architectural statement. While, on the north face, it suffices as solar protection, additional shading devices have been installed on the south-facing façade.

At a cost of 9.5 million euros (1187 €/m²), the conversion was relatively inexpensive. The somewhat raw first impression is nevertheless deceptive. The building is appointed to a high standard with underfloor heating, a ventilation system, two fast, luxury elevators and careful design detailing. Building services and technical installations have been run along the beams to minimise compromising the existing structure, and the majority of the ceilings including all fittings have been left exposed.

Originally published in Bauwelt 07.2015, pp. 26-31, abridged and edited for Building Types online, translated by Julian Reisenberger

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