Conceived by visionary developer Moritz Gruppe and designed by internationally acclaimed architects, LAVA, the three towers of gold, silver, and bronze and three diagonal shaped city blocks make up THE:SQUARE³, a new mixed use development inspired by sport that revitalizes a unique urban quarter in Berlin. With the theme, 'Life, Nature, Sports', their mixed-use concept is perfectly adapted and related to the nearby environment and reflects the local centre of excellence for high-performance sport, promotes local, national and global sports, generating positive social, health and economic benefits to the area. More images and architects' description after the break.
Berlin is a city with a long history and tradition. The design of a project in an urban area characterized by different scales and typologies demands a new approach. Rather than mimicking a particular style or historical development, the project aims at an evolutionary development of these typologies. The roofs of the city blocks become roof-scapes with balconies cascading into the courtyards. The rectangular volumes of the towers are diagonally cut creating more open views and perspectives.
Rather than a technological add-on, sustainability is embedded in the project's setup that optimizes solar gains and the use of energy. A careful balance of mixed use ensures social sustainability and use of the buildings. The integration of large green areas for the courtyards and the roof of the housing blocks and for the roof of the podium as well as gardens in the towers make plants an integral part of the architecture. Mixed use also provides the opportunity to combine heating with the production of energy resulting in a highly efficient system. All buildings maximize daylight, reducing the need for artificial light. Spaces are, where possible, naturally ventilated minimizing the need for mechanical ventilation. Rainwater will be collected and reused. The towers feature an innovative use of vertical green as well as surfaces that integrate photo-voltaics as means of regenerative energy production integrated seamlessly in the metallic facades.
The surrounding urban fabric of the site is diverse and fragmented at present. The Sportsforum fields, some turn of the century buildings, modern era housing blocks and a parking lot. The design responds by reformulating existing typologies to adapt to the various scales, relating to both 19th century and 20th century buildings as well as to the open space and the urban streetscape. This results in the clustering of the high-rise towers and in the landscaped articulation of the roofs of the residential blocks. The new massing corresponds to the themes of life - nature - sport creating boundaries and views between old and new parts. It ties old and new together on many levels, programmatic as well as urban and architecturally.
The mixed-use concept adds significant value to the quality of life and to German sports and sports in general. It reflects the local centre of excellence for high-performance sport, promotes local, national and global sports, generating positive social, health and economic benefits to the area. The architecture is forward looking and dynamic. It is less an expression of traditional facade grids or materials but rather one of the next stage of development in a dynamic, global city that respects traditions but combines different stages of its history with new possibilities.
The building structure is concrete and the tower cladding is metal to achieve the shimmering effect related to the sports podium concept. The facades have a metal structure with vertical green on the lower levels to relate the buildings into the green park landscape of the Sportsforum. The roofs of the apartment blocks are metal clad with a light color to reduce the effect of urban overheating.
LIFE: A multi-functional urban plan includes all the essentials for a high-quality and healthy urban existence for locals, workers and visitors, successfully answering the demands of a contemporary, quality lifestyle.
NATURE: Green characterizes three blocks, containing apartments, retail space, a kindergarten and social services. Residents will enjoy diagonally placed spaces, green roof-scapes with cascading balconies, integrated garden courtyards, and overlook playing fields. Hanging plant-filled facades are articulated according to building orientation, offering an enhanced quality of living.
3. SPORT: Rising above a sport ‘podium’ are three towers of varying heights with Olympic themed metallic facades of gold, silver and bronze. Each volume is tapered to maximize sunlight, views and ventilation. Offices for sports companies and clubs, apartments, a medical and research centre, sports education facilities , a sports hotel (specifically for athletes) and a sports focused shopping mall at ground level, encircle a green piazza.
Architects: LAVA, with developer Moritz Gruppe
Location: Berlin, Germany
Size: land 62,000 sqm; 146,000 sqm gross floor space
Facilities: 210 childcare spaces, 1,000 apartments, 100,000 sqm for offices/retail/commercial. One medical and research centre, sports hotel and hospitality such as a sports oriented shopping mall. Social and education facilities, some of them specialized on sports education. Parking concept with multi-storey carparks.
Cost: € 450 million investment
Status: Masterplan Zoning
Construction: Due to start in 2014 and be completed in 2017
