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FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Germany 2020: Gold for the GEISBEG Berlin
December 1, 2020
The community housing project "GEISBERG Berlin," a project by FORE GBS Development GmbH and the commissioned project developer COPRO Projektentwicklung GmbH, has won the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Germany 2020, a prestigious award for outstanding project developments.
The FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Germany is awarded annually by FIABCI Germany and the BFW Federal Association of Independent Real Estate and Housing Companies. From this year's approximately 40 applicants across Germany, GEISBERG Berlin prevailed in two categories and was awarded the highest distinction, "Gold," in the "Residential" category by the 13-member jury, as well as the special "Long-Term Breathing" award. Unfortunately, a gala awards ceremony was not possible this year. Therefore, the winning projects and the projects selected for the Official Selection were presented in a video. GEISBERG Berlin is featured twice, starting at minute 28 and again at minute 33.
The 95-year-old, listed post and telegraph office has been transformed into a timeless, modern community housing project: GEISBERG Berlin. The post office building, originally constructed in 1925, was carefully restored and modernized by the Berlin-based architectural firm O&O Baukunst. It was expanded with additional wings and extensions, creating a residential complex. A variety of apartment types catering to different lifestyles, with ceiling heights ranging from 2.80 to 3.70 meters, a personal concierge service, and an underground parking garage with charging stations ensure a high quality of living and a diverse range of open spaces.
After seven intensive years of project work, the integration of new and old, listed building elements has resulted in an ensemble of high urban quality. A place has been created where architectural merit and sustainable construction are combined with a new culture of communal living. The community, as the central project concept, creates a new living environment in the form of a vibrant and inspiring residential community – lived and experienced in various spaces for exchange and interaction. The former ticket hall, with its partially preserved historic expressionist ceiling painting, has been transformed into the new community room, featuring comfortable seating areas, an adjoining communal kitchen, and a central meeting point for residents. From here, the entire building complex can be accessed. The spacious, landscaped courtyards and gardens invite relaxation and provide a green oasis, a retreat in the heart of the city. The fitness room also encourages a healthy lifestyle and fosters a harmonious community for all residents.
The complete transformation of the listed former post and telegraph office into a community housing project is based on a highly complex zoning plan process under strict historic preservation requirements. “Reconciling the complex requirements of preserving the listed building status of the former post office with the demands of high-quality living, while simultaneously fostering urban community and further developing the concept of a neighborhood, has been excellently achieved with GEISBERG,” the jury commended. GEISBERG Berlin is the first German listed residential building to receive the DGNB pre-certification in Gold.
In addition to the necessary, extensive column renovations and the installation of a lightweight floor structure to ensure the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling, the project also had to guarantee the operation of the Telekom local exchange within the listed building, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on a 1,000 square meter site. “Aiming for the impossible from the outset is courageous and has paid off. The project developers are therefore receiving not only the Gold Award in the Residential category, but also the special prize for perseverance,” according to the FIABCI Germany jury.
In addition to the necessary, complex column renovations and the installation of a lightweight floor structure to support the ceiling, the project also had to ensure the operation of the Telekom local exchange within the listed building, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. About the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Germany:
Since 1992, the awards of the International Real Estate Association FIABCI have been among the most prestigious prizes for construction projects worldwide. Since 2014, the Prix d'Excellence has been awarded as a national prize in Germany. Investors, architects, project developers, and municipalities can apply for this coveted award.
GEISBERG Berlin
Project address: Geisbergstraße 6–9 / Welserstraße 14, 10777 Berlin
Client: FORE GBS Development GmbH
Project developer: COPRO Projektentwicklung GmbH
Architect: O&O Baukunst
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