RHE42, a striking new residential building in Berlin's Mitte district, showcases a bold and unconventional design. Built as part of an urban densification project, it stands flush against the firewall of the adjacent property—with three sides exposed to daylight and one deliberately "blind." The architects transformed an overlooked courtyard space into a vibrant urban home. What makes RHE42 truly distinctive is its sculptural form: three interlocking cubes that step inward toward the top, evoking the playful geometry of stacked building blocks. This staggered silhouette does sacrifice some usable floor area, but gains something equally valuable—terraces on all sides. The base is a generous double-height cube. On the ground floor, a 60 m² open-plan apartment merges living, dining, and cooking into one expansive space, with a private bedroom and bath. A secondary entrance opens to a natural oak staircase—its warm tones repeated throughout the building—leading to a 130 m² residence that unfolds across three levels. Here, the layout breaks convention: bedrooms and a guest zone occupy the first floor, while the main living area with its surrounding terrace sits one floor up. The room soars to an impressive 6.3-meter ceiling crowned by an extra window that floods the space with light. At the summit, within the tower-like uppermost cube, a walnut-clad mezzanine serves as the home office—a perfect retreat for focused work. Grey terrazzo runs through the wet rooms and kitchen counters, creating visual continuity. The architectural vision belongs to Batek Architects—specifically Patrick Batek and his collaborator Lukas de Pellegrin. Their restrained, sophisticated approach shines through in every detail, from the thoughtfully proportioned interiors to hand-painted MDF cabinetry that maximizes space without clutter. This attention to materials, color, and natural light reveals an intuitive design sensibility. The façade presents a refined palette: light grey render with subtle texture, its floor-to-ceiling windows sitting seamlessly flush with the surface. The garden and pathways, designed and realized by Atelier Le Balto, feature concrete slabs that wind across the corners, guiding visitors toward the side entry.

www.batekarchitekten.com

Photography Credits:

Marcus Wend
marcuswend.com

(Published in CUBE Berlin 01|21)