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The facade reflects the stacking of various functions. The building setbacks along Hermannstraße and expands the public street space. A historic light beacon mast of the former Tempelhof Airport is shaping an urban niche.
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The use of brickwork in the facades references to the surrounding cemetery buildings. The historic cemetery wall is integrated as a relief in the façade. An open staircase leads from the garden to the roof terrace.
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Large window openings allow views into and out of the exhibition areas. Recycled clinker bricks with their natural patina and chipped corners and edges form the façade on the first exhibition floor.
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An exposed concrete ribbed ceiling cantilevers across the column free foyer spaces on the ground floor generating a honeycomb-like structure, coined as the ‘spore ceiling’. Monolithic cores made of reinforced concrete support the ceilings load’s.
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Reused seat shells in the auditorium are mounted on the exposed concrete steps with special designed profiles.
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The site plan shows the ensemble of ‘Publix’ and ‘Spore’. The surroundings are characterized by a complex of old cemetery areas and dense Wilhelminian-style perimeter blocks.
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Ground Floor Plan. An «Ort des Zusammenkommens», meaning a place of gathering, structures the core idea of the building typology, formulated through differentiated open spaces in conjunction with its spatial functions.
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2nd Floor Plan. The 2nd floor offers space for workshops and seminars as well as a small library. Access to the roof terrace is possible from here and a connection to the community garden via an additional external staircase is created.
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Section AA
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Section BB
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Iterative processes and parametric simulations of computer-based 3D models were used to translate the main stress trajectories of the ceiling load curves into a concrete rib structure.
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Axonometry. Each floor offers a differentiated space programme and attempts to translate the innovative concept of public use into exciting spatial units.
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Rendering. The rendering shows the ensemble of 'Spore' (foreground) and 'Publix' (background). Both buildings create spaces for an innovative public use concept with a focus on the non-profit sector.
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SPORE INITIATIVE – PANEL
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Spore Initiative
AFF Architekten. Berlin, Germany
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Name of work in English
Spore Initiative
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Name of work in original language
Spore Initiative
Prize year
EUmies Awards 2024
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Work Location
Berlin, Germany
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Studio
AFF Architekten
EUmies Awards 2024 Nominees
Collaborators
Program
Mixed use - Cultural & Social
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Labels
Compact · Administration · Culture Centre · Exhibition · Community
Site area
1.156 m²
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Client
Schöpflin Stiftung
Completion
2023
Built as cultural & multifunctional hub for a non-profit foundation, the ‘Spore’ is part of an urban ensemble alongside the ‘Publix’: House for Non-Profit Journalism (2024, AFF). Through their setbacks, both buildings widen the public urban space. By integrating a historic light beacon mast, the ‘Spore’ is shaping an urban niche. The ground floor features open, flowing spaces including a foyer, auditorium, workshops and a café. The ceiling is forming a unique architectural identity – based on the microscopic shape of a spore. On the 1st floor temporary exhibition space is located and the 2nd and 3rd floors are offering a mixed-use program. These functions are reflected in the layering of the façade and reference the surrounding cemetery buildings. Inside, the tactile quality of oak wood, exposed concrete, and galvanized steel components contribute to a timeless aesthetic.
'Spore' is situated in a dense urban area. At the same time, the site is embedded in large cemetery areas, which are rededicate for a non-profit function. The positioning of both buildings, the ‘Spore’ and the ‘Publix’, aim to both widen the urban space and establish a solid urban architectural unit. The design boasts a strong geometry while delicately bridging the transition from the dense urban edge to the serene cemetery landscape. The objective is to weave 'Spore' into the urban fabric, while also crafting a resilient architectural expression. ‘Spore’ offers a multifaceted spatial programme that encourages participatory dialogues and interactions by an inspiring concept for public use. The vision includes fostering local collaborations, engaging the community and creating immersive spaces for educational groups. For all these different stakeholders, the building offers an open, welcoming ground floor, a tranquil community garden, the publicly accessible roof terrace and temporary exhibition spaces. The aim was to create architecturally exciting spaces for appropriation, while at the same time providing access that is as low-threshold as possible.
The facade reflects the stacking of various functions, from the generous structural glazing on the ground floor visually connecting the urban space with the interior, the layering of reused clinker bricks that shape the exhibition floor and the crowning of the upper two floors with new-fired brick to highlight the tapering of the building. The different materials were sensitively matched to each other in their feel and color and combine in their respective monolithic joining to form a continuous façade cladding. An exposed concrete ribbed ceiling cantilevers across the column free foyer spaces on the ground floor generating a honeycomb-like structure, coined as the ‘spore ceiling’, that optimizes the use of material. It was developed in conjunction with the structural engineers with the aim to create the greatest possible spatial coherence. Iterative processes and parametric simulations of computer-based 3D models were used to translate the main stress trajectories of the ceiling load curves into a concrete rib structure. As a result, an extremely material-optimized exposed concrete ribbed slab was implemented, which spans of up to 12 m.