Set back from the street, this building commands attention with a façade that's far from ordinary—visually striking and genuinely innovative. Berlin architect Michael Kunat rose to the challenge on Bundesallee by creating a strikingly modular façade system. Floor-to-ceiling aluminium modules, narrow and refined, serve multiple purposes and can be swapped out as needed: windows, photovoltaic panels, timber surfaces, vertical gardens, or external roller blinds that function like shutters. The result is a dynamic façade composed of "working elements"—each pulling its weight by delivering natural light, renewable energy, and refreshing greenery, while also providing privacy where needed. Fitted into a delicate aluminium frame, these flush-mounted panels lend the building an ethereal, weightless quality. The vertical planted beds feature native evergreens that breathe with the seasons, reducing the building's carbon footprint alongside other green elements: the central courtyard garden, rooftop areas, loggias, and terraces. Should residents' needs evolve, any façade element can be replaced with another. This adaptability is anchored by a reinforced concrete skeleton that accommodates future living patterns and technological advances—a framework built to grow with the times. The vision is elegantly simple: merge quality of life with ecological integrity. Behind this innovative skin lies a seven-storey mixed-use tower in Berlin's Charlottenburg district, moments from the Ku'damm. The developers, Fortuna Familien GmbH, seized a rare opportunity: a forgotten backyard plot in a neighbourhood where buildable land has all but vanished. The site had been a parking lot. Now, the residential and commercial building slots into place as if it always belonged there, filling a gap with grace. Despite its substantial footprint, the building feels light and open—an impression amplified by the façade's inherent delicacy. The ground and first floors house four office suites ranging from 74 to 124 m². Above sit rental apartments—a deliberate choice by this Berlin family business to exclude owner-occupied units. Eighteen barrier-free flats spanning one to four rooms (22–100 m²) create flexible living arrangements, crowned by two penthouses, each with a 30 m² roof terrace. The rear façade opens onto loggias overlooking a lush eastward-facing garden. Every interior detail speaks of refinement: terrazzo floors and wood panelling welcome visitors in the entrance; kitchens are bright and fully equipped; living spaces feature oak parquetry and natural stone bathrooms. A sculptural artwork threads through the narrative: a silvered, stylised plant winds along the courtyard wall and continues its ascent up the neighbouring firewall, as if forever growing. German painter and sculptor Stefan Szczesny conceived this poetic intervention.

www.kunat-architekten.de

Photos:
Kunat Architects

(Published in CUBE Berlin 03|25)