The International Bureau of Graft has teamed up with German firm Kleihues + Kleihues to create a new project for the center of Berlin, the Eckwerk complex, which they say will “find answers to the social, economic and environmental issues of our time” by connecting housing, commerce and community functions.
A multifunctional complex of five towers, connected by passages in the upper levels ("path of impressions" or "mountain trail"), the architects propose to build next to the railway bridge in the Holzmarkt district. It will include offices, housing and public spaces that will become the hallmark of the project. The towers vary in height and are united at the bottom by a walkway-promenade, accessible not only to the inhabitants of the complex, but also to all the townspeople. It will be built to create a walking area with city and river views.
At the base of the entire complex is a 2-storey stylobate with a vaulted structure "borrowed" from a nearby bridge. The roof of the stylobate will house multi-level covered terraces: they will complement offices with informal work areas such as coworking spaces, shops and public spaces. The authors called this stylobate the “city balcony”.
The main design principle of the complex is modularity. Both floor plans and facades will provide the ability to modify and adapt to new requirements.
Construction on Eckwerk is due to begin in 2015. The complex is currently the latest in a series of major new projects for the German capital: the J. Mayer H. Architects shopping center, the Frank Gehry skyscraper and the new headquarters of OMA's Axel Springer media holding.
