AERA Darwinstraße Roof Garden by Capatti Staubach Urbane Landschaften

INITIAL SITUATION

The construction of a new district, the “Werkbundstadt”, was originally planned on the site of a former power plant in West-Berlin. After this project failed to come to pass, several years passed before the first impetus for upgrading the area was given with the AERA office building on Berlin’s Mierendorff Island on the Spree. The building impresses with its outstanding architectural design by Grüntuch Ernst on behalf of Bauwens GmbH & Co. KG. Particularly noteworthy is the external terracing, which emphasizes the 2,200 m² roof garden, planned by the capattistaubach, a Berlin based landscape architecture office.

PUBLIC OPEN SPACE FOR EVERYONE IS POSSIBLE EVERYWHERE

The cascading floors of the AERA office building form the basis for an extraordinary park landscape that extends across the entire building. Seamless paths connect the ground floor with the 8th floor and create a continuous green axis. The gently modelled transitions between the floors, filled with topsoil, do not create typical terraces, but rather a spacious and harmoniously designed landscape. This green oasis extends the office space into the outdoors and offers impressive views over the capital. It combines architecture and nature in an innovative way and creates a space that removes the boundaries between inside and outside and creates a direct connection to the surrounding urban landscape.

Through an urban development contract with the local district office, a public right of access for the 8th floor was agreed upon. The park offers barrier-free access via an elevator or is reachable by a cascading staircase. On the top level, a 480-metre-long path extends slightly above the transparent parapets. Visitors can linger on benches or wooden platforms, do sports on the green areas or simply enjoy the impressive view over Berlin. This unique place combines relaxation, social exchange and architectural innovation and is open to everyone.

The roof garden is an outstanding example of innovative landscape architecture. It ensures access to nature even in an urban context and takes into account both the demands of climate change and the needs of its users. With its aesthetically appealing design and technical sophistication, it drives the progress of modern urban development.

PLANT USE AND CLIMATE PROTECTION

During its implementation, the transplanting of thirty trees of various native species with individual heights of up to 12 m posed a technical challenge. In order to be able to hold the up to 1.5 m thick substrate layer in which the trees are rooted, the ceilings‘ load-bearing capacity was adjusted. All trees were chosen and prepared two years before planting. In terms of both technology and design, the roof garden sets new standards for green roofs and the creation of public open spaces in areas with a high degree of impervious surfaces.

The climatically effective roof design stores rainwater in retention boxes and passes excess water from floor to floor according to the cascade principle until it is collected in a retention area on the ground floor. With the help of capillary mats, the plants can absorb the water and release it back into the atmosphere through leaf transpiration, thus closing the cycle.

In addition, an automatic irrigation system was installed to ensure that the plants are supplied efficiently even during dry periods. Only regional plants that can cope well with the local conditions were planted, as well as grasses and shrubs that can pollinate each other. The aim of the planned plant diversity is to filter an additional 5 tons of CO2 from the air. The roof design thus meets urban climatic requirements, improves the local microclimate, provides cooling and increases temperature comfort for users.

• Project typology: garden, roof park

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:

capatti staubach urbane Landschaften Landschaftsarchitekt und Architekt PartGmbB, Berlin

• Architecture offices involved in the design:

Grüntuch Ernst Planungs-GmbH, Berlin

• Other credits:

Client: Bauwens GmbH & Co. KG