Description

The architect Fritz Bornemann is regarded as a one of the most underrated protagonists of post-war architecture in West Berlin. His work includes the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek, Deutsche Oper, Freie Volksbühne and the museums in Dahlem (with Wils Ebert). Less well-known is his design for the extension of the town hall in Berlin-Wedding (1959-66). Simple, functional and a little aloof is how it appears at first glance. Bornemann’s urban design concept was, however, emblematic of the democratic self-conception of the burgeoning Federal Republic. Some 50 years on, Rüthnick Architekten, working in consultation with the heritage conservation authorities, have completely renovated the building for use as a job centre. The result is a thoroughly well executed, honest and coherent restoration of a work of post-war architecture. Its conversion shows that good functionalist architecture loses none of its appeal, even when the function changes. At a cost of 10.76 million Euro, the renovation has created 8900 m² of gross floor space for the job centre.

The original extension, completed in 1966, housed the hall of the district assembly (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, BVV) in a low, single-storey rectangular volume that is raised off the ground above the forecourt. The apparently simple strategy of pushing the hall out into the public plaza conveyed an additional democratic message by signalling that the representatives of the people met out in the open rather than behind closed doors. Fully glazed on three sides, the citizens were notionally able to look over the shoulders of their policy makers at work. As the most representative part of the building, the hall was given wooden panelling and a prism-shaped suspended ceiling with spherical globe lamps and was already equipped with a retractable screen and a ventilation system.

The tower block was also part of the extension and Bornemann divided the façade into horizontal bands of windows and exposed concrete panels that alternated with textured panels of marble pebbles. A single-storey section extends outwards on the southwest side to enclose a courtyard and a narrow glass connecting element with slender columns linked the extension to the old building to the northwest. A circulation core of exposed brick masonry adds to the varied but harmonious and complementary palette of glass, steel, wood and brickwork. Inside the building, many details were equally well-considered, for example the staircases and railings.

With the district reform in 2001 the districts of Wedding and Mitte merged, and the future of the building looked uncertain. The building was initially redeclared as a citizen’s advice bureau and in 2006 the district assembly hall was repurposed for use as a district library. A cage-like glazed enclosure was erected around the staircase beneath the elevated hall, which somewhat compromised the impression of its floating above the plaza. But after the completion of the Schiller Library by AV1 Architekten in 2015 on the southeast side of the plaza, the hall was once again rendered vacant. The search for a new use for the listed ensemble dragged on until the district sold it to the state.

In 2012, Rüthnick Architects were awarded a contract for a general renovation of the complex, including energy-efficiency improvements and the conversion of the building for use by the Berlin-Mitte Job Centre. The new function was fortuitous in that the original building was built to serve an administrative function, and the floor plan configurations could therefore be largely retained. Most work was required for the renovation of the tower’s façade to bring it in line with fire safety requirements. The assembly hall has regained its former splendour, but its technology has been upgraded. To keep costs down, the architects employed various low-tech means throughout the building to ensure energy efficiency, making it possible, for example, to do without an air-conditioning system.

Given that the renovation had to comply with conservation stipulations, the structural changes for use as a job centre were thankfully not too extensive. The architects also developed a colour concept to assist in wayfinding and orientation within the building, which on the ground floor tie in with the corporate design guidelines of the job centre. The publicly accessible upper floors are also worth paying a visit for their phenomenal views over the district of Berlin-Wedding.

Originally published in Bauwelt 22.2019, pp. 42-45, abridged and edited for Building Types online, translated by Julian Reisenberger

 

 

 

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