This environmental artwork carefully calibrates light qualities and distribution creating a comfortable civic space within the historic context of Werderstraße.
LICHTHOF
BERLIN, GERMANY
1999
BackImages
VIEW INTO THE COURTYARD FROM THE STREET
THE FACADE'S SPECIAL COATINGS LAYER REFLECTED AND TRANSMITTED VIEWS
THE FACADE AND ROOF FUNCTION AS BOTH A DAYLIGHTING AND PHENOMENAL DEVICE
THE ROOF BEAMS AND CABLE-NET FACADE REDIRECT LIGHT INTO THE NORTH FACING COURTYARD
THE CABLE-NET'S HORIZONTAL CABLE ARE OFFSET AND SUPPORT COATED GLASS BLADES THAT EXTEND THE VISUAL DEPTH OF THE THRESHOLD
EMBODYING LIGHT WITHIN THE BUILDING THRESHOLD
Description
The Lichthof is the primary public space for the German Foreign Office in Berlin. Conceived by the architects, Müller Reimann Architekten, as a lightfilled courtyard atrium with a glazed roof and façade onto Werderstraße, it serves as an orientation space for the public that enters the building, and as a symbolic space through which the public sees into the workings of the institution and the institution sees out to the public it is serving.
Enclosing Berlin’s German Foreign Ministry courtyard, JCDA’s cable-net wall and truss supported roof, layers imagery embodying the rich architectural history along Werderstraße. These elements also manage the large volume, evenly distributing light into the north facing courtyard thereby mitigating shadows that would obscure views into the courtyard.
Client: German Foreign Ministry
Architect: Müller Reimann Architekten