Jakob-Kaiser-Haus government building, Berlin

The master plan for the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, a large government accommodation in Berlin, determines the orthogonal arrangement of the architectural volumes and courtyards. This design for one section of the whole complex subtly interrupts the rather rigid grid. The two big courtyards are contrasting in their design and visually interconnected by an opening at ground level. This game of contrasts and shifting perspectives between the courtyards gives the building a transparent and playful character. Another successful aspect is the incorporation of the ‘Kammer der Techniek’ (almost 100 years old) in the new building. The façade reveals a clear distinction between the old and the new.