Upper School Law Center Berlin

The urban structure of Berlin-Charlottenburg is largely characterized by closed, street-side development. In some places there are still vacant lots that can be traced back to the bombing of the city at the end of the Second World War. In such locations, the high fire walls of adjacent houses are visible and the view opens deep into the interior of the building block.

Such a spatial situation had to be developed with the new school building. Following the urban planning logic, the new building takes up the height of the neighboring building. It is created to accompany the street as well as the fire wall. Experience has shown that the decision to extend the building on one side leads to a restriction in the use of daylight and requires a special floor plan solution.

While all classrooms are arranged on the three sides of the house facing daylight, a representative staircase positioned on the fire wall connects the individual floors. The center of the new building is not built on. This undeveloped core creates a covered inner courtyard that runs the entire height of the six-story building.

The zenithal light enters the interior via the edges of the courtyard roof and gives the house a special atmosphere that changes depending on the time of day and season. The walls surrounding the courtyard are made of satin glass blocks, through which diffuse daylight reaches the adjacent rooms.