Few workplaces could be more idyllic: A coworking space spanning 2,200 m² has emerged on historic ground for Unicorn, a company specializing in desk and office leasing. There is no trace of a dreary work environment here. The Berlin and Munich architecture firm dreigegeneinen transformed what was once a double homestead belonging to the historical Bohemian Village—built by Protestants expelled from religious persecution who settled here in the 18th century. In the years before the renovation, the site housed an automotive repair shop with garages, along with storage and office spaces. Due to its protected heritage status, the existing structures required exceptionally sensitive handling.

Under strict supervision by the heritage protection office, the renovation encompassed the restoration of the former automotive workshop and the courtyard buildings previously used for storage and offices, as well as the demolition of a rear building, a flat-roofed structure in the courtyard, the garage structures, and the construction of two new buildings. The new structures were erected on the historical footprints and fully comply with the office's requirements in terms of volume, ridge height, eave height, and architectural expression. A previously obstructed passageway to Kirchgasse at the rear was reopened by restoring the original access between the two newly constructed buildings. Overall, the ensemble comprises two front buildings on Richardstraße, two side wings, and two rear buildings. A dynamic tension emerges between the restored historic and new structures—rehabilitated existing buildings on the left, new constructions on the right. A café in the courtyard serves as a popular gathering point for all. The courtyard surface was also restored to cobblestone. This is not a reconstruction, but rather a reinterpretation. Only the footprint, eave and ridge heights, and roof covering roughly follow the historical precedent—with the notable exception of the new, expansive windows, dormers, and glazed surfaces designed to foster transparency among those working here. Parts of the original roof beams remain in the upper stories; new industrial parquet flooring has been installed, and some walls have been painted in soft colors. Individuals can now rent single workstations here, while startups can lease open-plan office spaces.

www.dreigegeneinen.eu

(Featured in CUBE Berlin 03|20)