Berlin, 2007
Photo © Christian Gahl

The Europa-Center on Breitscheidplatz in Berlin Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf was built in 1963-65 according to the plans of architects Hentrich and Petschnigg (now HPP Architekten).

Photo © Christian Gahl

The building consists of several components: a low-rise building with a shopping centre, a hotel and a cinema as well as the 85 m high office tower and the multi-storey car park on Nuernberger Strasse.

Photo © Christian Gahl

Within the existing ensemble, a six-storey department stores' was inserted as an independent component in place of the cinema. In consideration of the neighbouring buildings and the existing cubature, the building is divided horizontally into storey-high layers, which unite on Tauentzienstrasse to form a closed, flat façade and fan out or stagger back towards the high-rise.

Photo © René Hoch
Photo © René Hoch

Each horizontal layer consists of a vertically structured steel and glass construction with slightly twisted glass surfaces that form a scale-like structure. The glazing was screen-printed with various figures from the world of media.

Photo © Christian Gahl
Photo © Christian Gahl
Photo © Christian Gahl