OMA has released new images of their design for Axel Springer’s business and digital division, in Berlin, Germany. One of the largest digital publishing houses in Europe, Axel Springer officially launched the project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company’s publishing building.
OMA’s proposal was selected in a 2014 international design competition, beating out finalist entries from BIG and Büro Ole Scheeren. The brief called for a new modern work environment to house Axel Springer’s growing business and digital divisions.
“With our new building, we wish to bring the Axel Springer family in Berlin closer together while at the same time shaping the future of working in the digital world through architecture. It is about a symbolically powerful home, yet above all about a cultural transformation through radically modern workspaces,” said Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer.
Located opposite the company’s existing headquarters on Zimmerstrasse and on the site of the former Linden park, the new structure will feature a 30 meter tall atrium with 3D curtain wall elements that will cut through the center of the building volume. A publicly-accessible park will be built on the roof to replace the original parkspace. When complete, the building will be able to accommodate 3500 employees.
“Over the years, Berlin has been a profound source of inspiration, and with Axel Springer we are thrilled to continue our long engagement with this city," said Rem Koolhaas.
"We are lucky to have a client who views architecture as an instrument of change, and with this building, we hope to address a central dilemma of the contemporary office: as computer-based work has become largely intangible and silent, how can people effectively communicate in a workspace which fosters both concentration and vigorous interaction?”
The project is being led by Rem Koolhaas, Chris van Duijn, and Katrin Betschinger.
See the original renderings of the design, here.
News via OMA.
