Two similar office buildings. LEO & ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten
03/08/2023.
[BERLIN] Germany
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA
Architecture practice Tchoban Voss Architekten led Sergei Tchoban was commissioned to build two office buildings on two separate but nearby undeveloped lots located on Bornitzstrasse in the Lichtenberg district of Berlin. Each of the buildings was named in commemoration of the physician and writer Leopold Bornitz and his brother, the parish priest Alexander Bornitz.
"LEO" and "ALEX" are the names given to both buildings, including the foundation of the East-Berlin rehabilitation center, Lichtenberger Werkstaetten. To the west is "LEO" and is bounded by the listed former workshop building of the Konsumgenossenschaft, built in 1926-27 by Otto Wettstein. On the contrary, to the east is "ALEX" which is delimited by the office building "The Wave", built in 1997. To the rear of both are the industrial buildings Josef-Orlopp-Strasse.
Adding both buildings have a gross area of approx. 50,000 m², "LEO" generates a surface area of 24,422 m² and "ALEX" a surface area of 24,689 m². Both buildings have an underground garage floor with a total of 291 parking spaces, of which 10 to 50 have electric vehicle charging facilities, and there are another 47 spaces outside with the same facility.
"LEO" and "ALEX" are the names given to both buildings, including the foundation of the East-Berlin rehabilitation center, Lichtenberger Werkstaetten. To the west is "LEO" and is bounded by the listed former workshop building of the Konsumgenossenschaft, built in 1926-27 by Otto Wettstein. On the contrary, to the east is "ALEX" which is delimited by the office building "The Wave", built in 1997. To the rear of both are the industrial buildings Josef-Orlopp-Strasse.
Adding both buildings have a gross area of approx. 50,000 m², "LEO" generates a surface area of 24,422 m² and "ALEX" a surface area of 24,689 m². Both buildings have an underground garage floor with a total of 291 parking spaces, of which 10 to 50 have electric vehicle charging facilities, and there are another 47 spaces outside with the same facility.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
Site plan. LEO & ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Ground floor plan. ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Tipe floor plan. ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Section plan. ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Section plan. ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Elevation plan. ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Ground floor plan. LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Tipe floor plan. LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Staggered floor plan. LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Section plan. LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Section plan. LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
Elevation plan. LEO by Tchoban Voss Architekten.
The new office buildings "LEO" and "ALEX" designed by Tchoban Voss Architekten are volumetrically different, even though they were built by the same architects, in a nearby place and on similar dates.
«LEO» is made up of a main rectangular volume seven stories high, to which three other three-story rectangular volumes are added transversely. For this reason, there are 3 independent stairs to which 2 elevators per staircase are added. The façade of this building is produced by a gray-beige mottled brick factory, with columns between the bands of the windows that serve as embossed sheet metal cladding. But on the ground floor, closed parapets were installed to generate a minimum of privacy due to the lack of it thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
«ALEX» is constituted by a simpler volumetry consisting of a rectangular volume with seven floors from which three transversal blocks of the same height emerge to the west. However, the east façade is produced by red brick masonry, which is integrated with the neighboring historical buildings. The floors are divided by bands of horizontal windows whose continuity is rhythmically interrupted to provide the façade with visual variation.
The entrance to both buildings is comprised of a two-story height accentuated by a mullion-and-transom façade with canopies.
LEO & ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
«LEO» is made up of a main rectangular volume seven stories high, to which three other three-story rectangular volumes are added transversely. For this reason, there are 3 independent stairs to which 2 elevators per staircase are added. The façade of this building is produced by a gray-beige mottled brick factory, with columns between the bands of the windows that serve as embossed sheet metal cladding. But on the ground floor, closed parapets were installed to generate a minimum of privacy due to the lack of it thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
«ALEX» is constituted by a simpler volumetry consisting of a rectangular volume with seven floors from which three transversal blocks of the same height emerge to the west. However, the east façade is produced by red brick masonry, which is integrated with the neighboring historical buildings. The floors are divided by bands of horizontal windows whose continuity is rhythmically interrupted to provide the façade with visual variation.
The entrance to both buildings is comprised of a two-story height accentuated by a mullion-and-transom façade with canopies.
LEO & ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
Description of project by Tchoban Voss Architekten
The two new office buildings LEO & ALEX were built on two undeveloped plots on Bornitzstrasse in the Berlin district of Lichtenberg. The street as well as both buildings in the project are named after the doctor and author Leopold Bornitz and his brother, the parish priest Alexander Bornitz. Between the two volumes are the non-profit Lichtenberger Werkstaetten, which belong to the foundation rehabilitation centre Berlin- East. To the west, the "LEO" office building is bordered by the listed former workshop building of the Konsumgenossenschaft Berlin, built in 1926-27 by Otto Wettstein. To the rear is another listed building, the industrial buildings Josef-Orlopp-Strasse 32/54, and to the east of "ALEX" is the office building "The Wave", built in 1997.
The volume of the building "LEO" consists of three transverse, three-storey crossbars, which are connected longitudinally by a seven-storey building section. Three independent staircases connect the different levels and can be reached from the main entrance areas on the ground floor. Attached to each stairwell is a lift system with two lifts. The rental areas are designed to be flexible, allowing both a cellular office layout and an open-space variety. The "ALEX" building consists of a seven-storey block, from which three cross-blocks of the same height lead off to the west.
Green courtyards open up between the detached parts of the building. All roofs are planned as extensive green roofs. In the area of the staggered storeys, there are also roof terraces as elevated constructions, which, however, are not accessible without steps in relation to the utilization unit. In total, the two buildings have a gross floor area of approx. 50,000 sqm.
LEO & ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
LEO & ALEX by Tchoban Voss Architekten. Photography by Klemens Renner.
The exterior façade of building "LEO" is structured by a grey-beige mottled brick façade. The columns between the window bands were planned as a relief sheet metal cladding. On the ground floor, closed parapet elements were installed as privacy screens in front of the floor-to-ceiling window elements, as well as external sun protection. The striking façade of the "ALEX" building is made of red brick. Architecturally, it ties in with the historic neighboring buildings and is a reference to the industrial location of Lichtenberg in terms of cubature, colour and materiality. The storeys are divided by horizontal window bands, which are interrupted in places and thus give the façade a varied appearance. The two-storey entrance areas of the two buildings are accentuated by a mullion-and-transom façade with a canopy and provide access to the office buildings through one revolving door each, flanked by normal doors.
The two underground garages of "LEO & ALEX" provide a total of 291 underground parking spaces for cars, 10 to 50 of which can be used as e-mobility spaces. The lift cores connect the underground car park directly with the seven office floors. In addition, another 47 parking spaces are available in the outdoor facilities, which are also designed for electric mobility.
More information
Architects
Project team
Associated partner: Martin Krebes.
Project leader: Jan Frechen.
Team: Juan Durán Calero, Merle Kleinschumacher, Mareike Pagenstecher.
Project leader: Jan Frechen.
Team: Juan Durán Calero, Merle Kleinschumacher, Mareike Pagenstecher.
Collaborators
Execution service stage 5: Daelken Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Georgsmarienhuette.
Project management: Turner & Townsend, Berlin.
Landscaping: KUULA Kusserow und Uphaus Landschaftsarchitekten GbR, Berlin. Structural engineering: Sweco GmbH, Berlin.
Building technology: Sweco GmbH, Frankfurt am Main.
Fire protection: hhpberlin Ingenieure für Brandschutz GmbH, Berlin.
Project management: Turner & Townsend, Berlin.
Landscaping: KUULA Kusserow und Uphaus Landschaftsarchitekten GbR, Berlin. Structural engineering: Sweco GmbH, Berlin.
Building technology: Sweco GmbH, Frankfurt am Main.
Fire protection: hhpberlin Ingenieure für Brandschutz GmbH, Berlin.
Client
Quantum AG, Hamburg.
Area
LEO: 18,193 sqm (with underground 24,422 sqm).
ALEX: 19,155 sqm (with underground 24,689 sqm).
ALEX: 19,155 sqm (with underground 24,689 sqm).
Dates
Completion:
LEO: Q4 2021.
ALEX: Q2 2022.
LEO: Q4 2021.
ALEX: Q2 2022.
Location
LEO, Bornitzstrasse 49-51, 10365 Berlin. Germany.
ALEX, Bornitzstrasse 67-71, 10365 Berlin. Germany.
ALEX, Bornitzstrasse 67-71, 10365 Berlin. Germany.
Photography
Sergei Tchoban
Sergei Tchoban is an internationally active German architect. He is managing partner of TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten and head of the Berlin office. Tchoban studied architecture at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. He has lived in Germany since 1991 and has held German citizenship since 1995. After starting at NPS Nietz - Prasch - Sigl in Hamburg in 1992, Tchoban became managing partner of the architectural office now known as TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten in 1995. In 2009, the Tchoban Foundation was established, which is based in the Museum for Architectural Drawing built for this purpose in 2013.
Numerous residential and office buildings, hotels, cultural buildings and revitalisation projects have been created according to his designs and plans, including EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin, Germany's largest office ensemble in sustainable timber hybrid construction, the Berlin Apple store Rosenthaler Strasse, as well as the revitalisation of the Ernst-Reuter-Platz 6 office building and numerous buildings as part of the master planning for Berlin's Osthafen.
In 2020, Tchoban was president of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators ASAI. His architectural drawings have been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries worldwide and are in the collections of international museums, archives as well as in private collections. In 2018, Sergei Tchoban was awarded the European Prize for Architecture by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design for his lifework.
Sergei Tchoban is member of the Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten BDA (Association of German Architects) and the chambers of architects in Hamburg and Berlin.
Numerous residential and office buildings, hotels, cultural buildings and revitalisation projects have been created according to his designs and plans, including EDGE Suedkreuz Berlin, Germany's largest office ensemble in sustainable timber hybrid construction, the Berlin Apple store Rosenthaler Strasse, as well as the revitalisation of the Ernst-Reuter-Platz 6 office building and numerous buildings as part of the master planning for Berlin's Osthafen.
In 2020, Tchoban was president of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators ASAI. His architectural drawings have been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries worldwide and are in the collections of international museums, archives as well as in private collections. In 2018, Sergei Tchoban was awarded the European Prize for Architecture by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design for his lifework.
Sergei Tchoban is member of the Bund Deutscher Architektinnen und Architekten BDA (Association of German Architects) and the chambers of architects in Hamburg and Berlin.
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