The new office building at Jannowitzbrücke, in Berlin, Germany, will be a sustainable landmark which contains a modern and flexible working environment. The design of the building is based on the surrounding heterogeneous environment. So the architecture on one hand, is related to its surroundings through scale, height and the stepped form, while also freeing itself from this, to achieve an independent and characteristic silhouette. The tower is organically shaped without a front or back. It is simple and sculptural, with the open base positioned as a free-standing object in the newly created station courtyard. Shaped like a wavy carpet of red brick tiles, this becomes an extension of the station's historic brick arches. In the lively three-storey base, public functions such as cafes, shops, conference areas, meeting centres and co-working spaces for start-ups are located. The upper part of the tower contains flexible and appealing office space, great views, and access to the rooftop gardens. On the top floor there is a sky bar with its own panoramic terrace. Together with the station space, JAHO will thus become a generator for urban life and modern corporate culture.
Facade systems that contribute to the building’s sustainability
The green ‘weathered copper’ colour of the tower, with the existing brick, relates to other important landmarks in the Berlin skyline, notably the modernist S-Bahn train station Jannowitzbrücke. The multifunctional façade system consists of prefabricated structural elements that ensure time-saving assembly and serve four important functions: to provide daylight and views, minimise overheating, generate renewable energy, and allow for natural ventilation. Fixed exterior sun protection elements provide the façade with spatial depth and create a lively play of light and shade. These sun protection elements ensure a comfortable indoor climate, while generating electricity via integrated solar cells. They also enable noise-cancelling ventilation openings in the façade during the summer months, and reduced heat loss through winter. The distribution of the façade openings is optimised so that the lower floors which are closer to adjacent buildings, have larger glass surfaces, and conversely, the windows to the south and on the upper floors require less glass surfaces to reach the recommended daylight conditions. The urban spaces are designed for a comfortable microclimate with sunlight, shade and wind protection. The stepped building volume helps to mitigate wind, and the green roof terraces contribute to optimising the microclimate through evaporation.
