Luisenblock West

Government district Berlin, DE

Building owner	Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR)
Architecture	Sauerbruch Hutton Company of Architects mbH
Construction time	15 months
Completion	2021
BGF	17.000 m2
Number of modules	460

400 offices for the German Bundestag

It took just 20 months from Kaufmann Bausysteme and PRIMUS developments being awarded the contract to the completion of the building. The actual construction time was less than 15 months. The seven-storey building was designed by architects sauerbruch hutton and constructed almost entirely from prefabricated timber modules. On 22 December 2021, the building was handed over to the German Bundestag one month earlier than contractually agreed.

Impressions

Luisenblock West

In addition to the sustainability aspect and time-saving production, it is important to us to integrate the building into the genius loci despite the pioneering technology. The building takes up the height and volume of the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus opposite. The restrained silver façade cladding is in keeping with the exposed concrete of the neighbouring Houses of Representatives – a few coloured glass panels in the windows are a direct reference to the liveliness and diversity that characterise the German parliament.

Matthias Sauerbruch

sauerbruch hutton, Berlin

We are often asked whether building with modules is not contrary to our profession as architects. I would like to answer that in the negative for our office. Architects think modularly per se, because even with conventional construction methods, a building is made up of a large number of prefabricated construction elements in standardised dimensions.

Sybille Bornefeld

Partner Sauerbruch hutton, Project Manager Luisenblock-West