BAUMKIRCHEN MITTE BY UNSTUDIO

Unstudio’s design for the Baumkirchen Mitte consists of a 18,500m2 residential and office complex which will become the focal point for the entrance to the new Baumkirchen Mitte development in the East of Munich.

Changing demands and expectations in contemporary living form the starting point for the residential areas within the design. Flexible accommodation types are incorporated which afford variable constellations and offer the possibility to combine adjacent units.

In addition, flexible floor plans enable a variety of configurations in the apartment layouts, thereby directly addressing the specific and individual needs of the residents. Outdoor spaces vary in scale and form an integral part of the apartments. n the design for the office tower neutral spaces, such as foyers, lobbies and meeting areas are used to establish the identity of the building.

The design combines both zones that guarantee maximum flexibility for varying combinations of users and exclusively designed areas that provide spaces for communication and creativity. The facade design reflects the duality of the programme, with two contrasting materials defining the look and feel of the building.

Bright metal forms the background, lending the structure a contemporary and light aesthetic, whilst the contrasting use of wood affords the building the appearance of a custom-made furniture piece for the urban space. The remaining traces on the location of a previous rail yard form the blueprint for the structure of the roof gardens.

The linear frameworks in the landscaping of the gardens accommodate fields of kitchen gardens and play areas, as well as rows of ornamental grasses and flowering perennials and are inspired by the spontaneous vegetation of the track fields. Through the integration of vegetable gardens, systems for rainwater harvesting, composting and beekeeping areas the roof garden becomes more than just a recreation area. It additionally plays an important ecological role by contributing to a sustainable living environment.

Location: Munich, Germany 
Architects: UNStudio 
Project Team: Ben van Berkel, Astrid Piber with Wouter de Jonge, Jan Schellhoff and Elisabeth Brauner, Abhijit Kapade, Grygorii Zotov, Steven Reisinger, Derrick Diporedjo, Mick Heijkens, Jürgen Heinzel, Patrick Noome 
Landscape: OR else Landscapes 
MEP & Sustainability: Werner Sobek 
Fire strategy: HPP Berlin 
Building surface: 18.500 m2 
Building volume: 47.716 m3 (BRI Above Ground) 
Building site: 3.820 m2 
Status: Winning Competition Proposal 
Client: CA Immo and PATRIZIA Immobilien AG