78454 SOM076

Das American Business Center at Checkpoint Charlie

Design/Completion 1992/1996 Berlin, Germany

Checkpoint Charlie Bauprojekt GmbH

446,700 square feet

Concrete

Glass and metal curtain wali, limestone

Błock 105, part of the American Business Center at Checkpoint Charlie, marks the intersection of the demolished Berlin Wall along Zimmerstrasse, and the pre-Baroque wali of the old city of Berlin.

Designed for residential, retail, and Office use, the complex incorporates an existing building into three new structures, and has been conceived so that the components can function individually or as one unit. The first component is a contemporary interpretation of the historically prevalent streetwall building that fully or partially encloses internal courtyards. At the intersection of Friedrichstrasse and Zimmerstrasse, the bar-shaped building flows into a rounded corner that becomes a circular tower, highlighting the importance of the site. This architectural gesture focuses the complex on the former Checkpoint Charlie gate.

The courtyard building is the third component, a U-shaped structure clad in glass and limestone with painted metal details, completelyenclosing a central public court.

1    Zimmerstrasse elevation

2    Aerial view

3    Model of tower

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