The ship is still in the docks – and will remain there. The supposed luxury liner "Dockyard" is actually a progressive, state-of-the-art office building on Stralauer Allee, between Oberbaum Bridge and Treptower Park, on the site of the former East Harbour. The building was constructed on the last undeveloped plot of land at Stralauer Allee 15–16, covering an area of 13,400 m². The new building is a seven-storey office building constructed using a hybrid timber construction method, located directly on the corner of Elsenbrücke and opposite the striking Allianz Tower on the other bank of the Spree.

The fleeting visual impression of a closed bar is deceptive: in reality, there are two buildings, one square and one rectangular – connected by a bridge structure that is flush at the top but leaves a passageway open at the bottom. The ceiling of the passageway is clad in mirrored stainless steel sheet, which reflects the rippling waves of the River Spree. An underground car park with electric charging stations provides parking for staff. In all three parts of the building, the ratio of wood to concrete has been precisely calculated. From the first floor upwards, the ceilings were constructed using HBV technology: wood and concrete are connected in a shear-resistant manner. The properties of both materials come into play: the wood bears the tensile forces, while the concrete absorbs the compressive forces. The basement and ground floors have concrete ceilings. Each of the two main buildings is accessible via its own entrance, which opens into a spacious lobby with a respectable height of almost seven metres. From there, stairs and lifts lead to the upper floors. A special highlight are the extensively greened roofs and roof terraces with seating areas, from which the Spree and the opposite bank can be viewed. The façades consist of glass window elements that extend up to the sixth floor and are divided every two floors by cornices and pilaster strips. On the south façade facing the Spree, additional elements include offset, protruding square bay windows with balconies at the top. On the other sides of the building, however, recessed loggias break up the façades. Six of the seven floors are designed for office use. Open floor plans allow tenants to zone the space according to their needs. The ground floors are partly intended for commercial use, such as shops or restaurants. All design possibilities were exploited: Topotek 1 landscape architects were responsible for the design of the outdoor facilities. Art in construction is integrated into the outdoor area, the lobbies and the individual floors. Sustainability and future viability were central to the project's planning from the outset: the wood-hybrid construction significantly reduces energy requirements, and the energy supply for heating and electricity is designed from the outset to be zero-emission, using only emission-free energy sources – solar energy, geothermal energy and ambient air. The property also has an ice storage system. In winter, this makes use of the energy released during the freezing process. In summer, it serves as a buffer storage for excess heat. The combination of these systems enables the building to operate with virtually zero CO₂ emissions.

www.tchobanvoss.de

Photos:
HGEsch
www.hgesch.de

(Published in CUBE Berlin 04|25)