Kalle Neukölln

In the Berlin Neukölln, the former Quelle outlet on Karl-Marx-Strasse and the adjacent multi-storey car park are undergoing conversion to create a vibrant new place. Both the urban population and the office workers on the upper floors are invited to enjoy shops, restaurants, a food market and pleasant opportunities for relaxation. KALLE Neukölln is a prototype, an idea for injecting fresh appeal and new life into derelict department stores. Preserving the load-bearing structure and stairways supports a resource-efficient construction process. The redesign of the façades reflects the functional revamp and integrates the ensemble into a setting defined by listed buildings. The large volume is split optically into two complementary siblings. Two façade reliefs with boldly layered depth, one structured vertically and the other horizontally, echo a traditional pattern found, for example, on the front of the town baths opposite. The transition zone between the two tracts takes the form of a glazed atrium and event area. The big roof terrace has gone public with restaurants and generous planting. The façade picks up the greenery as an ornamental feature, letting it flow downwards towards the market hall.