Charlie Living

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Mixed UseResidentialCommercial
Project type
Newly constructed residential complex with 243 rental units, retail and hotel with basement parking
Status
Built
Location
Berlin, Germany
Time
2017–2020
Size
33,100m²
Client
Photos + Video
BTTR GmbH
Awards

BDA PREIS BERLIN 2021, People's Choice Award: 2nd place, German Architects "Building of the Year": Nominee, Wohnbauten des Jahres 2021: Award, MIPIM Awards 2021 – Best Residential Project: Finalist, ArchDaily Building of the Year 2021: Nominee, Immobilien Manager Award: Finalist Project Development New Construction, International Urban Project Award 2020: Shortlist; Designverse Awards 2023-2024: Jury Grand Prize

Charlie Living is the largest newly-built predominantly residential project in Friedrichstadt, in direct proximity to former Checkpoint Charlie.

The open ensemble of four new buildings fills one of the last open lots of Berlin Mitte with its former strip of the Berlin Wall. The Graft design with its high public permeability of accessible existing paths through to the inner area of the complex connecting with the neighbouring E-Werk and hotel on Mauerstraße, stands in contrast with the otherwise closed block structure of the immediate vicinity.

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Charlie Living GRAFT

Against this backdrop of the Martin Gropius Building, the State Parliament Building, the “Topography of Terror” Memorial with its original pieces of the Wall, Friedrichstraße with Checkpoint Charlie and the Axel Springer Campus, the new residential ensemble marks a highly liveable dwelling in one of the most historically significant areas of Berlin. With a unit mix of 243 3-7 roomed apartments ranging from 40 to 300 m² in size, and 48 “serviced apartments,” the complex constitutes one of the largest, newly-built residential developments at this location since the 1987 International Building Exhibition IBA.

The residential complex consists of three eight-storey main buildings – Block A, B, and C and a cluster of townhouses situated within the inner block, D, which are slightly inclined towards each other, modelled polygonally and freely connected to each other by means of a green internal courtyard. This publicly accessible courtyard forms an oasis within the hustle and bustle of Berlin’s historic heart and provides pedestrians with a short-cut through its block-like structure to Mauerstraße and the middle of Friedrichstraße. All buildings convey an individual geometry and have a distinctive surface and façade concept which provides all apartments with generous loggias or balconies as transitory spaces between outside and inside.

Charlie Lageplan
Charlie Lageplan
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The free-standing building enables all apartments on the western border of the property a particularly favourable exposure to light. Depending on the time of day and the incidence of light the metal facade seems to have a silvery or golden shimmer. Building C houses the club room with leisure facilities on the ground floor and a roof terrace, both of which are at the disposal of all residents.

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Hidden at the back of the courtyard area is Building D, a three-storey structure consisting of six townhouses. Each of the units is equipped with a front terrace, cellar and garden constituting an inner-city residential area providing high-quality urban dwelling.

All buildings and individual sections serve the broader idea of public accessibility and the elimination of the strict separation of private courtyard and public space. Charlie Living proves that these qualities are not mutually exclusive and that a premium residential address in a central yet quiet location is possible with the highest openness to the urban public. Perhaps, a precedent for a sustainable and highly liveable urbanity.

Founding Partners
Lars Krückeberg, Wolfram Putz, Thomas Willemeit
Project Lead
Stefanie Götz
Project Team
Agata Glubiak, Aleksandra Zajko, Alexandra Tobescu, Altan Arslanoglu, Anika Klos, Antonio Luque, Aurelius Weber, Cristina Freni Dennis Hawner, Djordje Zdravkovic, Dorothea Freiin von Rotberg, Evgenia Dimopoulou, Inga Anger, Iulian Ivan, Jakub Wreczycki, Jerzy Gerard Gabriel, Jia Chen, Julie Hoffmann, Konstantin Buhr, Lidia Beltran Carlos, Maria Angeles Orduna, Marta Piaseczynska, Mathilde Catros, Mats Karl Koppe, Matthias Eckardt, Oliver Rednitz, Primoz Strazar, Relana Hense, Sascha Krückeberg, Sven Bauer, Veronika Partelova, Xiufu Chen