The DGNB awards Platinum as its highest certification for sustainable buildings. The criteria rest on three pillars of sustainability: ecology, economy, and sociocultural value. Tchoban Voss Architects' new Edge Suedkreuz Berlin meets all of them. Situated at Hildegard-Knef-Str. 2–3, two office and administration buildings now serve as the new headquarters for energy company Vattenfall. The site sits at the heart of the Schöneberger Linse—a lens-shaped urban quarter stretching from Südbahnhof to Schöneberg S-Bahn station, bounded by Sachsendamm to the south and rail tracks to the east and north. This distinctive "lens" is evolving into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood.

Positioned on the site's eastern edge, the recently completed Tchoban Voss complex comprises an irregular seven-story perimeter block and a complementary seven-story tower to the north. The open layout creates a passage from the west and an expansive public plaza oriented toward Südkreuz station. At the heart lies a spectacular courtyard sheltered beneath a transparent ETFE foil roof. Striking tree-like wooden sculptures punctuate the space—functioning both as visual anchors and structural supports for viewing platforms connected by delicate bridges, streamlining circulation through the generous atrium.

Both new buildings employ hybrid timber construction. Happold's engineering team collaborated with the architects to adapt their designs to the modular, patented CREE building system—a choice that delivered 30 to 50 percent cost reductions in earthworks, foundation systems, and basement construction. No waterproof concrete was needed for the foundations, for instance. Additional benefits include shorter construction schedules, lighter structural loads, and exceptional durability. These buildings represent a new benchmark for truly sustainable design and underscore the imperative to reimagine planning and construction methodologies. Achieving an overall compliance score of 95.4 percent, they stand as Germany's most sustainable building project today. The recognition doesn't end there: the ensemble earned the DGNB "Diamond" award for design excellence—an honor reserved for completed buildings that hold (or aspire to) DGNB Gold or Platinum certification and demonstrate outstanding architectural achievement.

www.tchobanvoss.de

Photography Credits:

Ilya Ivanov
www.photoivanov.com

Michael Fahring
www.michael-fahrig.com

(Featured in CUBE Berlin 04|22)