Futurium Berlin

Embedded between the Spree Riverbend, the Berlin main station and the Charité Hospital, the Futurium creates its own sculptural identity in this ensemble. On the two main sides of the building two public spaces are defined by setting back the building. The entrances have cantilevering canopies of up to 18 meters generating sheltered public spaces. A pattern of dots covers the entire public space and lends it its own identity. The façade is made up of a reticular grid of shimmering diamond shaped panels. Under the constantly shifting lighting conditions they generate an ever-changing cloud image. The inner structure is divided into 3 large spheres - the "Futurium Lab" in the basement, the “Forum”- spaces are placed on the ground floor. The permanent exhibition is on the upper floor. A public walkway on the roof with views to the city and large photovoltaic areas - the Skywalk.

As a young practice, Richter Musikowski Architects won a twophase, open, international architectural competition for the design of the Futurium. During the design phase the office operated as overall planer. The building was realized as a PublicPrivatePartnership. The strategy during the planning and building process was charcterized by an open and honest communication between the different parties. Future Vessel the Futurium houses permanently changing exhibition concepts. So there was a demand for open and wide spaces, which could be reprogrammed easily. The static system needed to ensure flexibility and a slight conversion must be guaranteed. During the whole design and building process all decisions needed to be proofed by the guide lines of the BNBGold sustainability rating. The high requirements towards energy concept, lifecycle costs and sustainability were proofed permanently by experts. The optimized and extremely energy and climatefriendly energy concept uses as much as possible the regenerative energy of the sun. By using BIM as instrument in the construction planning, complex geometric problems could be solved.

A simple and robust reinforced concrete construction in combination with steel beams was chosen. The static system of the building is clearly differentiated between primary support system and expansion. Large spans and few supports have emerged directly from the requirement of flexibility. The visible use of renewable energies was designed inside and outside of the Futurium. Looking like a large “solar-field”, the public roof is almost completely covered with photovoltaic and solar thermal elements. The local storage of energy is done by a large mass storage in the middle of the building. It uses paraffin as a highly efficient storage medium. The Futurium is designed as a plus energy house with a plus of 8kWh / (sqm/a). The rainwater collected on the roof is collected in a cistern and used for adiabatic cooling and irrigation of the outdoor facilities. The “Forum” is designed as an open, warm and lightfull space of communication. The “Futurium Lab” on the lower level is designed as a subterranean laboratory. Dark-colored on-site concrete, black asphalt floors and a ceiling grid made of fluorescent lamps lend this space a contemplative atmosphere.