Assignment 02 - Individual Design
Spreeufermarkt

In order to expand the constituency for ad hoc use of the Spree bank, I propose a market for the empty space between Oststrand and YAAM. This market space can hold a farmer’s market, craft markets, or other exhibitions. The built elements provide a flexible framework to allow different configurations for different uses at different times.
The system of shaders provides needed shade, but the shaders can be twisted along their length to produce more vertical or more horizontal shading. This has the effect of creating zones of greater light or darkness below the shading plane. This allows the space to be flexible, yet still allowing differentiation.

Assignment 01 - Historical Research
Hansa Quarter & Interbau ‘57

In 1957, West Berlin held an exhibition of modern housing buildings as a western, international solution to urban development, in contrast to the large scale boulevards being planned by the GDR, as best exemplified by Stalinallee in East Berlin. The exhibition was known as Interbau, and consisted of 35 buildings designed by 48 architects.

Exhibition organizers chose the Hansa Quarter as the site, for two reasons. First, its location in West Berlin adjacent to the Tiergarten, and second, and perhaps more important, was its near-complete destruction during World War II, which allowed architects to work on a blank site, unencumbered by historical remnants.

The designers invited to contribute designs were among the most famous modern architects of their time, and included Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen. The buildings themselves varied greatly, from sixteen story towers to one story bungalows, and each was an opportunity to experiment with new ways of urban living. The exhibition was a great success, with many of the original residents still living there. And a new generation is discovering the charms of the Hansa Quarter, with younger people quickly snapping up units as they become available.

Assignment 02 - Individual Design
Spreeufermarkt

In order to expand the constituency for ad hoc use of the Spree bank, I propose a market for the empty space between Oststrand and YAAM. This market space can hold a farmer’s market, craft markets, or other exhibitions. The built elements provide a flexible framework to allow different configurations for different uses at different times.
The system of shaders provides needed shade, but the shaders can be twisted along their length to produce more vertical or more horizontal shading. This has the effect of creating zones of greater light or darkness below the shading plane. This allows the space to be flexible, yet still allowing differentiation.

Assignment 01 - Historical Research
Hansa Quarter & Interbau ‘57

In 1957, West Berlin held an exhibition of modern housing buildings as a western, international solution to urban development, in contrast to the large scale boulevards being planned by the GDR, as best exemplified by Stalinallee in East Berlin. The exhibition was known as Interbau, and consisted of 35 buildings designed by 48 architects.

Exhibition organizers chose the Hansa Quarter as the site, for two reasons. First, its location in West Berlin adjacent to the Tiergarten, and second, and perhaps more important, was its near-complete destruction during World War II, which allowed architects to work on a blank site, unencumbered by historical remnants.

The designers invited to contribute designs were among the most famous modern architects of their time, and included Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen. The buildings themselves varied greatly, from sixteen story towers to one story bungalows, and each was an opportunity to experiment with new ways of urban living. The exhibition was a great success, with many of the original residents still living there. And a new generation is discovering the charms of the Hansa Quarter, with younger people quickly snapping up units as they become available.