GRAFT
Gleimstrasse Loft
Berlin, Germany
“Living and Working, Openness and Intimacy; Flexibility has become the keyword in contemporary Loft Design. Unless the private areas are opened to the “public” or to private guests, the owner of a Loft lives in a hidden private world. Openness and fluid continuums integrating bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen become possible. Individuality today only depends on the dreams and the courage of the owners.”
GRAFT
Photo: Jan Bitter
With the transformation of the rooftop of a typical 19th century building, in one of the new hip areas in Berlin, the architects created an atypical and very personal space.
Beds, benches, sofas, walk in closets, shelves and library are integrated in the wall construction, inviting people to inhabit the forms that usually only surround us.
Photo: Jan Bitter
Photo: Jan Bitter
Photo: Jan Bitter
Photo: Jan Bitter
The loft was designed as a flexible open space, with the entrance, staircase, bathrooms and storage rooms, hidden in a sculptural mega-form.
Photo: Jan Bitter
Photo: Jan Bitter
In order to integrate the central “sculpture,” and connect to the activities of daily life, the architects carved it out, and cut it apart. This generated a playground for numerous possible combinations of protecting, “cave-like,” and open, “stage-like,” atmospheres.
A number of sliding walls allowed for subdivisions of the flow around the core, with the kitchen acting as the heart of the house. Bedrooms and adjacent bathrooms can be combined to suites.
Photo: Jan Bitter
Photo: Jan Bitter
Photo: Jan Bitter
All surfaces in the kitchen, including furniture, walls, floor and ceiling, as well as all surfaces of the core, are covered with a high quality concrete plaster. All other surfaces by a sophisticated drywall technology.
The north and south facades are closed by a foldable window/door system. Both can be completely opened, extending the space to include the two exterior balconies.
Living in this environment is a balance between an extroverted Gallery atmosphere, and an introverted Studio atmosphere.
Drawing courtesy GRAFT
Floor Plan
Drawing courtesy GRAFT
Room Zones Plan
Total Floor Area: 3,500 square feet
Completed: 2004
Architects: GRAFT
Project Team:
Lars Krückeberg
Wolfram Putz
Thomas Willemeit
Lennart Wiechell
Tobias Hein
Michael Rapp
Michael Ostertag
Nils von Minckwitz
Peter Braun Himmerich
Sascha Krückeberg
Photographed by Jan Bitter
GRAFT arcspace features
May 18, 2009