New House of Representatives, City of Berlin [1996]

Renovation and extension of the former Prussian Parliament building, including a historic façade restoration. This historic heritage building and landmark houses the new House of Representatives for the City of Berlin. The core of the renovation included the Plenary Assembly Room, office space for the legislators, the library, the various parties’ conference rooms, the casino and the canteen. An extension includes additional office space of the parliament.
During the period of the divided city, the House of Representatives of West Berlin was temporarily located in the city district of Schöneberg. With the fall of the Wall, this location became obsolete. The Parliament decided to reoccupy the building of the former Prussian Parliament in Berlin-Mitte. The building was part of the ensemble of Göring´s Luftfahrt Ministry during the Third Reich. It had also been used as office space for the House of Ministries during the East German period. Thus the building is an important reminder of the complex history of both the city of Berlin and of Germany.
The renovation plan resulted from a careful reading of the building, originally designed by architect Schultze. Much like an archeological site, rules were established that would retain and ensure the visibility of the various layers of the history of the building. The intervention relates dialectically to the previous layers of occupancy and is designed to contrast the architectures of the past. A “historical promenade”, supported by the necessary functions, leads the visitors through the building and into the main assembly space.
The Plenary Assembly space is conceived as a “room within a room”. This allows for the walls to be interpreted exactly as they were discovered. The infill construction is composed of a primary steel structure - independent of its containing walls - and layered with acoustical panels and reflectors, which create the new assembly space for the plenary sessions. The transition between the various layers, from historical to contemporary, can be experienced in various aspects of the renovation. The principle of `layering´ defines the architectural language which is carried through all the areas of the building. The implemented materiality is a result of the conceptual attitude that is carried through to the project detailing.
In contrast to the architecture of Schultze and the other previous renovations, each expressing a single period and style, the project portrays a clear and pure language that is able to coexist with and respond to the existing architectures, building on them respectfully, yet adding a unique voice and expression.

Architect: M. Stankovic [Rave Krüger Stankovic Architekten BDA]