MOLKENMARKT

Located in the historic heart of Berlin, Molkenmarkt presents an opportunity to rebuild a piece of the city while responding to the layers of architecture, streets, and public spaces that have shaped it over time. The proposal develops a new mixed-use ensemble rooted in this setting, bringing together housing, workplaces, commerce, and public life through a contemporary interpretation of Berlin’s urban fabric.

Rather than reconstructing history, the design seeks to understand its underlying qualities and carry them forward. The architecture avoids arbitrary formal gestures, drawing instead from the scale, rhythm, materiality, and character of its surroundings. New buildings extend the existing urban structure and form a sequence of distinct but related spaces, reinforcing continuity within the complex fabric of the city centre.

From Molkenmarkt in the west towards Jüdenstraße in the east, the architectural language evolves in dialogue with its surroundings, reinforcing pockets of existing historic identity. The proportions, rhythms, and order of the inherited architecture are reinterpreted through a contemporary language. A more linear, neoclassical expression gradually transitions towards softer arches and curved elements that reference the nearby historic Registry Office.

Larger volumes are articulated through subtle variations in render, window proportions, stone detailing, and rooflines, allowing them to read as a collection of individual buildings rather than singular large developments. Along the narrower Parochialgasse, the architecture becomes quieter and more restrained, responding to the intimate scale and character of the street.

At the new Stadtplatz, architecture and public space come together through a continuous colonnade inspired by the strong vertical rhythm of Berlin’s Altes Stadthaus. Rotated square columns create changing patterns of light and shadow, gradually transitioning into circular columns at key entrances and passages. The colonnade provides the square with a coherent architectural frame while allowing the individual buildings above to retain their own identities.

A diverse programme supports everyday urban life. Generous two-storey commercial spaces accommodate larger retail and cultural uses, while smaller shops, cafés, and local businesses activate Parochialgasse. Flexible ground-floor layouts can be subdivided over time and establish connections between surrounding streets and public spaces. Above, housing and workplaces introduce different patterns of occupation throughout the day, complemented by a varied residential programme centred on accessible and adaptable homes.

The emphasis on longevity extends to the construction and environmental strategy. Simple, repetitive structural systems prioritise robustness, economy, and ease of construction, while durable materials support a long building lifespan. Green retention roofs provide substantial rainwater storage, with excess water collected for reuse within the buildings, while photovoltaic panels contribute to on-site renewable energy production.

Molkenmarkt is conceived as a continuation rather than an imitation of Berlin—an architecture that draws strength from the city’s history while creating a robust, adaptable, and lived-in piece of its future.

Program: Mixed use building – Residential, offices, commercial

Size: 9,500 m²

Location: Berlin, Germany

Client: WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH

Type: Competition

Status: Second prize

Team: Henning Stüben, Heechan Park, Gaspar Canepa, Celine Kohlhaas, Rosa Fuentes, Jose Luis Villas Pastor, Borja Santurino