The “Wohnregal” is a 6-story building housing life/work ateliers. It was built using pre-cast concrete elements common in industrial warehouse construction. Underlying the choice for this serial construction technique was the ambition to bridge two apparently contradictory challenges the housing market in Berlin is facing.
© David von Becker
On the one hand, industrial prefabrication offers the benefits of serial construction techniques such as cost-savings and shorter construction timelines thus addressing the rising construction cost for housing. Countering preconceptions that serial construction automatically implies a standardization of the inhabitable unit itself, the “Wohnregal” at the same time offers a maximum range of different life/work ateliers for an ever-broadening bandwidth of urban lifestyles.
© David von Becker
The pre-cast concrete structure with its long-spanning TT-ceilings facilitates such variety as it offers a clear span from façade to façade without any structural walls needed on the interior.
© David von Becker
A curtain wall consisting of large-scale standard sliding doors is used as the façade. It allows for the interior to be opened up to its surroundings during the summer months turning the living space as a whole into a loggia. At the same time this curtain wall offers a maximum presence of the gridded pre-cast concrete structure both to the inside as well as to the surrounding.
© David von Becker
© David von Becker
Project Info
Architects: FAR frohn&rojas
Area: 1040 m²
Year: 2019
Country: Berlin, Germany
Photographs: David von Becker
Engineering: IB Paasche
Design Team: Marc Frohn, Mario Rojas Toledo, Max Koch, Ulrike vandenBerghe, Lisa Behringer, Ruth Meigen, Martin Gjoleka, Felix Schöllhorn, Pan Hu, Julius Grün, Erik Tsurumaki, Katharina Wiedwald
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.