Productive Space

The thesis forms a typology and concept to reintegrate to programmes living, working and production in an urban setting. Various spatial dimensions allow for these uses and shape spaces, adapted to our needs, from intimacy to generosity. By optimising and partially combining spaces, the project creates affordable spaces on expensive urban plots.

Based in Berlin, the project forms a new, adaptable typology to combine urban living, working and production. The concept responds to multiple current developments: change in the building law (Urbanes Gebiet) allowing for the integration of mixed uses; new production techniques and a shift in our society’s mind-set. The site is on Köpenicker Straße, a central location defined by its unfinished character and a functional and typological mix. This includes warehouses and the typical Berlin Block, a typology defined by multiple courtyards originally catering for housing as well as small manufacturing units. These typologies are combined into a building composition containing linear structures made up of small units and large spaces that span in between the linear ones. The different spatial dimensions appear, each in different ways, in all of the programmes: living, working and production and define different spaces within each programme. This forms an adaptable and scalable system that can be expanded to other sites, such as the neighbouring plot. The concept aims to optimise and partially combine spaces in all sections, in order to create affordable spaces that are used to capacity. Production facilities: each company has its own section in the large dividable space – facilities for storage and logistics are shared. Residential spaces: every resident has a private sleeping room and retreat – whereas spaces like living and guest rooms are shared. Working facilities: users have own workstations – storage or the kitchen spaces are shared. This section also includes all workstations needed for the production or for private use. Functions, profiting all users such as conference rooms or showers are located in the combined circulation which also provides access to the gym, a restaurant and a roof top terrace. The building envelope consists of two layers: a post-and-beam glass facade and a metal mesh outer layer. During the day the mesh forms a unifying, protective envelope, while at night revealing the complex inner spatial structure and its various dimensions.