Today, such a task is genuinely rare: the architectural firm Modersohn & Freiesleben was commissioned to reconstruct the roof of this magnificent corner building, partially destroyed during World War II. One half had been provisionally rebuilt as a flat roof, while the other half had deteriorated significantly. The goal was to restore this storied structure—which has anchored the streetscape for 130 years alongside its neighboring buildings—by adding new living space beneath the roof. The five-story building is nearly mirror-symmetrical in composition. A grand marble staircase leads to the first floor, accessing two spacious apartments. Originally, each apartment connected to the courtyard via its own service staircase—a quintessential Berlin corner apartment building of its era.

Fire safety codes, urban planning regulations, and heritage conservation requirements imposed considerable constraints on the design. Only two large apartments could be created—and only because two former servants' staircases existed. On the street façade, modest dormers were added, while toward Ludwigplatz a prominent gable was introduced to emphasize the building's corner. The result is a contemporary yet respectful interpretation of the original architecture. Together with the two reconstructed historic corner turrets, the new gable restores the building's distinctive profile. The central room behind the gable—which dramatically showcases the roof's full dimensions—belongs to one of the apartments. Here, there's ample space for a staircase and gallery opening onto the courtyard. On the courtyard side, a gently sloped roof creates recessed sections, generating south- and east-facing terraces. The roof structure uses timber, subtly color-coded to integrate with the spatial composition. The result: two meticulously detailed apartments with both formal and intimate spaces—mirroring the layout of the floors below. They're open-plan and flooded with natural light, complete with terraces and sweeping views across Berlin's roofline.

www.mofrei.de

Photography:
Nils Oehler
Johannes Modersohn
Kerstin Anke
Sebastian Schels
www.schels.net

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|25)