Perched majestically above the Havel River in Kladow, the main building of Sancta Maria once stood as a luxury hotel offering wealthy guests respite and refinement. Following World War II, the building was reimagined as a sanctuary for those in need and placed in the care of the Hedwig Sisters. They transformed it into a home for countless orphaned children of that era—a compassionate mission that endures today. The building continues to serve as a children's residence under the Hedwig Sisters' guardianship, honoring a legacy of care that spans generations.

With demand for children's home placements rising across Germany—particularly in Berlin—the facility needed a comprehensive renovation to maximize its capacity. Architect Andreas Bach was tasked with the transformation, working alongside skilled regional craftspeople to convert the hotel and its grounds into a fully functioning children's residence. The project addressed critical infrastructure updates: resolving outdated electrical and utility systems, redesigning bathrooms to meet current institutional standards, and installing modern heating. The main building's secluded position eliminated the need for sound barriers affecting neighboring properties. "The client did, however, request lighting along the access roads," Bach explains, "designed carefully to avoid illuminating the adjacent residential areas."

The design philosophy centered on the wellbeing of the children. A priority was minimizing double occupancy—a challenging goal given the building's structural constraints, yet achieved: only two of seventeen rooms are configured as doubles. Equal care went into creating outdoor spaces tailored specifically for children.

While the fire safety plan didn't mandate an alarm system, the client chose to install one throughout the main building as an added layer of resident protection. The top floor now houses a soundproofed meeting room with glass walls—a thoughtful solution allowing residents to take in unobstructed views of Lake Wannsee even during meetings.

www.aba-bau.de

Photography:
Andreas Bach Architect

(Published in CUBE Berlin 03|25)