cube berlin

Cube berlin occupies a unique and highly prominent location on Washington Platz, with a vast public square fronting Berlin Central Station across the River Spree. The masterplan for Washington Platz defined the building to be a perfect cubic body measuring 3 x 42.5 meters with five equally important façades, including the roof. It was important that this centrepiece achieved a sculptural quality on its own while not outshining Berlin Central Station. Hence the design envisions a relief-patterned, reflective façade with a kaleidoscopic reading of the surroundings. The smart building concept is taken to the next level by implementing an intelligent exchange – a self-learning “brain” – to coordinate all the individual systems including access control, lift operation, climate and light control, and booking systems. Via an app, users and visitors can interact with the building. The app helps connect people, drive sustainable behaviour, and make their working day more efficient. In addition to opening doors and calling lifts, users can identify the optimal workspace at any given time based on their unique preferences, location of co-workers and energy efficiency. The building offers varying reflective views and takes on a dynamic appearance due to the considered use of façade elements. All sides of the building have their own distinct appearance. Though it looks complex, the layered façade is made from only 12 different glass elements, distributed in different combinations across the building. The layering of the two façades creates several generous platforms on the façade. These platforms are horizontally and vertically distributed around the building so that the façade changes dynamically and all views of the building are unique. cube berlin is designed to be a social experience and to meet future demands for more dynamic workplaces. Thanks to greatly enhanced flexibility in in plans, the building is geared to accommodate temporary project structures, shifting tenants, new collaboration patterns, knowledge sharing and external networking. The overall compact building massing and effective façade to floor area ratio allows for a 100 % glazed façade. The ventilated double-skin façade offers high performance, allowing users to benefit from natural ventilation and daylight, while providing effective protection against heat gains. As a privately-owned office building at the centre of Washington Platz, it was important to both the city and design team that cube berlin performs more than as an architectural statement. The sculpted body is designed with the desire to actively engage with the surroundings and act as a catalyst for bringing life to the square. On the ground floor there are semi-public spaces with exhibition areas, an auditorium, and a food market. During the summer season, the façade can be opened to allow the public amenities to spill out at the square and make cube berlin’s interior interact with the surroundings. The vision of ‘inhabiting the sculpture’ continues at the vast roof terrace is open for social events, celebrations, breaks and as an informal workspace.