Humboldthafen

While its location on the Invalidenstraße offers excellent transport access for both residential and office developments, the rear of the site to the south and east faces the river and is more tranquil. The preliminary development plan proposes a waterside walkway for this section. GRAFT’s design seeks to make optimum use of the site while strengthening the site’s characteristic qualities for both retail and residential uses.

The rhythm and appearance of the façade changes depending on one’s viewpoint, highlighting sometimes the patterned uniformity of the facades and sometimes the pronounced surface modulations of the relief and angled protruding bays. At ground level in the public arcades and at roof level where the façade steps back to create private terraces, the standard module is varied in height to reflect the scale while remaining part of the overall pattern. The arcaded walkway along the waterfront of the Humboldthafen widens to form a south-facing waterside terrace with adjoining café. With its spectacular view south over the water and the passing trains and boats, it is both the public face of the building and a theatre auditorium with public arcade below and private loggias and balconies above: a theatre-like backdrop with the city as its stage.