Frank O. Gehry - DG Bank

Frank O. Gehry
DZ Bank
Berlin, Germany

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase
The Pariser Platz facade

The just completed Pariser Platz 3 is a mixed-use building comprised of the Berlin Headquarters of DZ Bank and a residential component with 39 apartments. The commercial component of the building is oriented towards Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, and the residential component towards Behrenstrasse.

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase
The Behrenstrasse facade

Both the Pariser Platz facade and the Behrenstrasse facade are fairly rectilinear as there were very strict limitations FOGA had to follow. The facades, clad in a buff-colored limestone that matches the Brandenburg Gate, are scaled independently from one another, so that the proportions of both are appropriate to the immediate urban area within which they each exist. The Pariser Platz facade features a series of simple, punched openings and deeply-recessed window bays, allowing the building to blend naturally into the unique urban fabric which is the setting of the Brandenburg Gate. A glass canopy covers the main entry from Pariser Platz.

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase

The high-volume foyer immediately inside the main entry offers a view into the building's large interior atrium, which features a curving glass ceiling and a curving glass floor.

Photo: Kirsten Kiser

A wood-clad arcade leads to the office elevator lobbies, which are located on either side of the atrium. Offices and conference spaces are organized around the atrium, and are oriented inward to take advantage of the natural light that floods through the glass ceiling.

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase
The construction of the roof is very light and looks like a spider web.

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase

The building's primary conference hall is located within a highly sculptural shell that rests on the glass floor in the center of the atrium making it appear to float in the space. The four-story high structure, its curvy form resembling an enormous prehistoric horseâs head, is clad in stainless steel on the exterior and wood on the interior.

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase
A cafeteria is located below the the atrium glass floor

Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase
Inside the Conference Room

The beginning of the form for the Conference Room grew out of the Peter Lewis House; a 6 year project that was never realized. From 1989 to 1995, when he worked intensively on the Lewis House, Gehry used the project to experiment with free-form shapes that since have shown up in many of his most famous buildings.
The room was actually booked for future conferences long before it was constructed...just from the model.

Photo: Kirsten Kiser
A FOG sculpture of the horse's head shape

A Sky Lounge is located on the roof of the building, beneath a stainless steel collar that surrounds the Southern end of the atrium's glass ceiling.
The Sky Lounge features high ceilings and expansive glazing designed to take advantage of the building's spectacular views of the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, and theTiergarden.
A second, smaller interior atrium will serve the residential component of the project. This atrium promotes ventilation in the residential area and allows natural light to enter both sides of each apartment. A reflecting pool at the bottom of the atrium adds a dynamic quality to the light, best seen from the glass elevators that service the residential area.

Photo: Kirsten Kiser
The Conference Room under construction November 2000

Sketch courtesy FOGA

Drawing courtesy FOGA

Client:
DG Immobilien Management GmbH
Hines Grundstucksentwicklung GmbH

Area:
20,000 square meters

Schedule:
Begin Design: 1995
Begin Construction: 1996
Completion: July 2001

Project Team:
Frank O. Gehry
Randy Jefferson
Craig Webb
Marc Salette and
Tensho Takemori
Larry Tighe
Eva Sobesky
George Metzger
Jim Dayton
John Goldsmith
Jorg Ruegemer
Scott Uriu
Jeff Guga
Michael Jobes
Kirk Blaschke
Nida Chesonis
Tom Cody
Leigh Jerrard
Tadao Shimizu
Rick Smith
Bruce Shepard

DZ-Bank Homepage

Frank Gehry arcspace features

July 7, 2001





				Features
		Frank O. Gehry DZ Bank Berlin, Germany Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase The Pariser Platz facade The just completed Pariser Platz 3 is a mixed-use building comprised of the Berlin Headquarters of DZ Bank and a residential component with 39 apartments. The commercial component of the building is oriented towards Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, and the residential component towards Behrenstrasse. Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase The Behrenstrasse facade Both the Pariser Platz facade and the Behrenstrasse facade are fairly rectilinear as there were very strict limitations FOGA had to follow. The facades, clad in a buff-colored limestone that matches the Brandenburg Gate, are scaled independently from one another, so that the proportions of both are appropriate to the immediate urban area within which they each exist. The Pariser Platz facade features a series of simple, punched openings and deeply-recessed window bays, allowing the building to blend naturally into the unique urban fabric which is the setting of the Brandenburg Gate. A glass canopy covers the main entry from Pariser Platz. Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase The high-volume foyer immediately inside the main entry offers a view into the building's large interior atrium, which features a curving glass ceiling and a curving glass floor. Photo: Kirsten Kiser A wood-clad arcade leads to the office elevator lobbies, which are located on either side of the atrium. Offices and conference spaces are organized around the atrium, and are oriented inward to take advantage of the natural light that floods through the glass ceiling. Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase The construction of the roof is very light and looks like a spider web. Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase The building's primary conference hall is located within a highly sculptural shell that rests on the glass floor in the center of the atrium making it appear to float in the space. The four-story high structure, its curvy form resembling an enormous prehistoric horseâs head, is clad in stainless steel on the exterior and wood on the interior. Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase A cafeteria is located below the the atrium glass floor Photo: Mrs. Waltraud Krase Inside the Conference Room The beginning of the form for the Conference Room grew out of the Peter Lewis House; a 6 year project that was never realized. From 1989 to 1995, when he worked intensively on the Lewis House, Gehry used the project to experiment with free-form shapes that since have shown up in many of his most famous buildings. The room was actually booked for future conferences long before it was constructed...just from the model. Photo: Kirsten Kiser A FOG sculpture of the horse's head shape A Sky Lounge is located on the roof of the building, beneath a stainless steel collar that surrounds the Southern end of the atrium's glass ceiling. The Sky Lounge features high ceilings and expansive glazing designed to take advantage of the building's spectacular views of the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, and theTiergarden. A second, smaller interior atrium will serve the residential component of the project. This atrium promotes ventilation in the residential area and allows natural light to enter both sides of each apartment. A reflecting pool at the bottom of the atrium adds a dynamic quality to the light, best seen from the glass elevators that service the residential area. Photo: Kirsten Kiser The Conference Room under construction November 2000 Sketch courtesy FOGA Drawing courtesy FOGA Drawing courtesy FOGA Drawing courtesy FOGA Client: DG Immobilien Management GmbH Hines Grundstucksentwicklung GmbH Area: 20,000 square meters Schedule: Begin Design: 1995 Begin Construction: 1996 Completion: July 2001 Project Team: Frank O. Gehry Randy Jefferson Craig Webb Marc Salette and Tensho Takemori Larry Tighe Eva Sobesky George Metzger Jim Dayton John Goldsmith Jorg Ruegemer Scott Uriu Jeff Guga Michael Jobes Kirk Blaschke Nida Chesonis Tom Cody Leigh Jerrard Tadao Shimizu Rick Smith Bruce Shepard DZ-Bank Homepage Frank Gehry arcspace features July 7, 2001