The building's elegant curves immediately evoke the architectural language of Erich Mendelsohn. This new residential tower occupies what was once the final vacant plot at Fromet-und-Moses Mendelssohn-Platz, directly across from the Jewish Museum. Dominating the square is the transformed flower market hall, now home to the Jewish Museum Academy and the "Anoha" children's museum – anchoring a new urban ensemble completed by three substantial new buildings positioned at the plaza's edges.

Designed by Berlin-based architects Gewers Pudewill, the NeuHouse rises to the north toward Besselpark. The developers tasked the competition winners with an ambitious brief: design a seven-story residential complex with ground-floor retail, while sensitively renovating one of Kreuzberg's oldest structures and integrating it into the overall scheme. The result: 75 apartments ranging from compact studios (24 m²) to spacious five-room units (149 m²). The protected 19th-century building underwent careful restoration in consultation with district and state heritage authorities, retaining 14 original units while the new construction adds 61 residences. An underground garage provides 34 parking spaces.

The new building's façade of light-toned, elongated bricks creates both visual lightness and refined elegance. The staggered loggias with their distinctive balustrades command attention, while the strategic pattern of perforated brickwork—every other brick removed—introduces rhythm without sacrificing privacy. The curved forms prevent the substantial mass from ever feeling heavy; instead, the structure reads as remarkably graceful. The sixth and seventh stories step back to create generous roof terraces offering sweeping views across the neighborhood and city skyline. Floor-to-ceiling glazing and balconies animate the rear façade, while a carefully landscaped courtyard between old and new buildings provides residents with a serene retreat complete with private terraces and planted communal areas. Inside, the commitment to exceptional quality is unwavering: exposed concrete, fine parquet flooring, and refined finishes throughout reflect a sophisticated architectural vision—with interiors also conceived by Gewers Pudewill Architects.

www.gewers-pudewill.de

Photography:

HG Esch
www.hgesch.de

(Published in CUBE Berlin 01|23)