TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten

HELMHOUSE is a modern seven-storey residential building nestled among a historic row of art nouveau and transitional style buildings in the heart of Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district. Its architectural language is recognisably rooted in the 21st century and at the same time a worthy addition to the historic buildings in the neighbourhood. The project fills a gap in the typical Berlin perimeter block development on Senefelder Strasse, not far from Helmholtzplatz, which also gave the project its name.

The U-shaped ensemble is conceptually based on the typical Berlin residential courtyard, consisting of a front building, side wings and a garden house, which enclose a green inner courtyard. This type, which characterises the entire surrounding neighbourhood, is further developed here into a hybrid that maintains tension throughout the depth of the block area, comprising the widest possible range of apartment types. This spatially interlinked composition of residential types is accompanied by an interior-oriented design that continues to feature the elements of an inner courtyard and rear courtyard, but formulates them in a more intense and individual way than the relatively standardised buildings in the neighbourhood. In the third dimension, a variety of recesses, roof formations and terraces ensure a maximally animated spatial boundary and an outdoor space quality that benefits
both all residents as a whole and the flats individually.

The project comprises 21 flats with various living concepts: two three-storey townhouses, barrier-free apartments and medium to large residential units.

The ground floor of the front building houses 140 sqm of commercial space. The main entrance on the street side leads to the communal entrance area, while the side wing and garden house are accessible via separate entrances in the inner courtyard.

The seven-storey front building has eleven barrier-free flats with two to five rooms. The adjacent seven-storey side wing follows the depth of the property and transitions into the five-storey garden house via a two-step staggered design. The garden house contains the two townhouses, each with 4.5 rooms and floor areas of approximately 167 and 192 sqm. The colossal two-storey windows at the rear emphasise the airy gallery on the first floor. Access is via separate entrances. The interiors of the townhouses were designed by Studio Aisslinger in Berlin. The communal courtyard is intensively landscaped and offers recreational areas and a small playground.
Depending on the type of flat, balconies, loggias, terraces or small private gardens are available. There are roof terraces on the front building and on the garden house, each accessible via internal stairs from the flats below. Four additional roof terraces are located on the same level as the recessed floors on the side wing, on the street
façade and on the garden façade of the rear building.