DIEAG finalises architectural competition for high points on Behrens-Ufer

DIE Deutsche Immobilien Entwicklungs AG (DIEAG) has successfully concluded the architectural competition for the three striking high points of its BE-U | Behrens-Ufer neighbourhood development. At the jury meeting on 11 and 12 July, the work of a total of 12 architectural firms from Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Copenhagen was assessed. Two important objectives were to be taken into account in the designs: energy-efficient and sustainable construction and integration into the existing urban development concept. The architectural competition was held simultaneously for all three high points of the BE-U | Behrens-Ufer commercial district development in order to focus on the neighbourhood concept of the area.

Winner of the competition

The first prize for building section A 1.3., which will be in a prominent location on the Spree and has a gross floor area of around 15,000 square metres, was awarded to MATTER Schmidt Fach Architekten und Stadtplaner and KUULA Landschaftsarchitekten. The design impressed the jury with its appealing verticality, the clear urban figure, the robust spatial and construction concept and the well-organised internal structure of the building, which allows for flexible uses in the long term. Second prize went to Störmer Murphy and Partners, while third prize was awarded to CSMM.

Special features of the award-winning designs

First prize was awarded to Kleihues & Kleihues Gesellschaft von Architekten for building section A 3.1, which comprises around 33,000 square metres of gross floor area including the base. In its statement, the jury emphasised, among other things, that the façade design and materiality of the high-rise and block components refer to historical references of Berlin industrial architecture, with a focus on proportion, rhythm, tectonics and physicality. In combination with the architectural language of brick, a strong character of its own is created. The second prize-winning design was submitted by TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten, while the third prize went to &MICA.

First prize for the third building, numbered A 3.3, located at the eastern tip of the site near the shore, was awarded to the architectural firm HENN und Landschaftsarchitekten Aplantis. One of the convincing features of this concept was that it consists of two elongated structures instead of a single block, with a space in the middle that invites visitors to the differentiated green terraces and public areas of the building with a generously covered entrance from the water side. According to the jury, the variety of volumes and spaces creates a lively and vital character. Second prize went to the work of ADEPT ApS and third prize was awarded to GRAFT Gesellschaft von Architekten.

Drees & Sommer SE was commissioned with the planning and realisation of the competition as process supervisor, as well as with the preliminary examination of the submitted works.

Voices from the jury and next steps

Prof. Jórunn Ragnarsdóttir from Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Architekten was unanimously elected chair of the jury by the technical and specialist judges and entrusted with chairing the jury meeting. ‘It's about high-quality public spaces in this wonderful location,’ she said, summarising the aim of the competition. ‘The outer walls of the buildings are the inner walls of the city, which is why we look at all designs from the perspective of the pedestrian.’

Robert Sprajcar, CEO of DIEAG Group and member of the jury, says: ‘What was particularly remarkable about this competition was how diverse the tasks were interpreted, even though the urban planning specifications were very narrow. All of the submitted designs implemented the aspect of sustainability very well and, architecturally, the winning designs in particular perfectly take up the elements of the Behrens-Ufer site.’

Ulrike Zeidler, Head of the Treptow-Köpenick Urban Development Department and member of the jury, says: ‘With the successful conclusion of the architectural competition, three designs have been found and awarded prizes, which will in future stand alongside the landmark Peter Behrens building as a monument to Berlin's modern industrial culture. The new buildings to be added in the future will have their own form and design and will fit in with the scale of the existing buildings and contribute to the contemporary, sustainable development of the area with climate-adapted architecture. I particularly welcome the fact that proof has once again been provided that forward-looking topics such as photovoltaics, façade greening and rainwater management are not at odds with the protection of our architectural heritage, but that old and new will complement each other. I was very pleased to be part of the jury and to make my contribution to this future location of Berlin.’

For Prof Silvia Malcovati, professor at the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and member of the jury, Peter Behrens' life's work is one of the focal points of her research and teaching. Her conclusion: ‘As part of the competition, we were able to familiarise ourselves with a number of works that have succeeded very well in transferring the teachings of Peter Behrens into contemporary architecture. The three winning designs deliberately speak a different architectural and urban planning language. They will work well together and support the character of the site.’

The jury recommended that DIEAG, as the organiser of the competition, should continue to work on the winning designs, taking into account the information in their written assessments.

Composition of the jury

The jury (jury) consisted of a material jury and a specialised jury. The expert jury was composed as follows: Robert Sprajcar (DIEAG), Prof. Regina Zeitner (HTW Berlin) as representative of Prof. Stefanie Molthagen-Schnöring (HTW Berlin), Senate Building Director Prof. Petra Kahlfeldt (Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, 11. 07.2024), Anina Böhme (Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, deputising for Prof. Petra Kahlfeldt, 12.07.2024), Ulrike Zeidler (Berlin Urban Development Office) and Till Ackers (ZÜBLIN). The expert jury consisted of the following experts: Dieter Eckert (ENS Architekten BDA), Prof. Silvia Malcovati (FH Potsdam), Prof. Dogan G. Yurdakul (GfP - Gesellschaft für Planung), Reinhard Busch (Fugmann Janotta und Partner) and Prof. Jórunn Ragnarsdóttir (Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Architekten).


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(Source: DIEAG, 07|24|2024 | “DIEAG finalises architectural competition for the three striking high points on BE-U | Behrens-Ufer")