Assignment 02 - Individual Design
Badeschiff/Arena

The Badeschiff is surrounded by active and artistic lifestyles. This is evident when approaching the site. The Spree is uniquely occupied by restaurants and bars that are suspended and float along the edge. These barges allow for social density that would otherwise not exist along the Spree and its' tributaries.

In contrast, the only lasting sign of life along the walk towards the Badeschiff's entrance is the art painted along the brick walls. To propose a temporary occupation of the alleyway, I analyzed the floating river barges and broke them down to their elemental form, the rectangular platform on which they sit.

The platforms were appropriated and manipulated in size and length to then be suspended along the entrance to the Badeschiff to create a new area for social interaction. These platforms allow for neighboring artists to exhibit their work as well as more spaces for gathering and lounging. The platforms meander around the alley that ends in a large hammock meant to hold about 100 people. The hammock is placed at the end of the alley, which is a prime location for peoplle watching and enjoying the view.

Assignment 01 - Historical Research
American Embassy

There has been an American presence in Germany since the late 1700’s with the arrival of John Quincy Adams. However, an embassy was not created until the late 1800’s in Berlin.

During WW1, America’s presence almost disappeared. But, in 1930 the Blucher Palace at the Parisier Platz was purchased for use as the permanent location for the US Embassy. However, it caught fire in 1931 before it was fully integrated for Embassy functions. The Depression and the diminished relations with the Nazi regime slowed the repairs. In fact, the ambassador requested that the repairs didn’t happen because of the large Nazi rallies that occurred in the Parisier Platz. The presence of the American’s diminished over the next few years, and there was no official ambassador assigned to Berlin between ’39 & ‘41.

During the years prior to Pearl Harbor the words “USA” were placed on the top of the building in hopes that the British would not bomb the building. However, the building sustained severe damage. After the US entered the war, the Swiss took charge of the original building during that time.

When Bonn became the capital of West Germany in 1949, a US Embassy was opened in West Berlin away from the Parisier Platz. The original building, Blucher Palace, was demolished in 1957. With the Soviets in East Germany, the US did not establish an embassy, however, they created “US Mission Berlin”, which was located in Zehlendorf. US Mission Berlin worked separately from the US embassy in West Germany. Rather working with the US General in charge stationed in the east. This dual but disconnected presence is a unique historic situation.

With the fall of the Berlin wall the US made a conserted effort to unify their presence in the city by creating one location. Although the capital was Bonn, the Embassy stayed in Berlin and acted as a satellite office. The site of the original US Embassy straddled the East and West border and sat as a vacant lot until the 2004 groundbreaking for the new Embassy.

A competition was held in 1996 and the design was awarded to the California Architects Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners with Gruen Associates and the Berlin architectural firm Lunetto Fisher. The new building was completed in November of 2007, which marked the completion of the reconstruction of the Parisier Platz. Security was one of the main concerns when designing the building. Gardens are along each street and on the roof of the building. It houses artworks by Christo, Calder, Robert Rauschenberg, Annette Lemieux and Andy Warhol. A Sol LeWitt piece graces the Consular entry along the Behrenstrasse and Ebertstrasse.

Assignment 02 - Individual Design
Badeschiff/Arena

The Badeschiff is surrounded by active and artistic lifestyles. This is evident when approaching the site. The Spree is uniquely occupied by restaurants and bars that are suspended and float along the edge. These barges allow for social density that would otherwise not exist along the Spree and its' tributaries.

In contrast, the only lasting sign of life along the walk towards the Badeschiff's entrance is the art painted along the brick walls. To propose a temporary occupation of the alleyway, I analyzed the floating river barges and broke them down to their elemental form, the rectangular platform on which they sit.

The platforms were appropriated and manipulated in size and length to then be suspended along the entrance to the Badeschiff to create a new area for social interaction. These platforms allow for neighboring artists to exhibit their work as well as more spaces for gathering and lounging. The platforms meander around the alley that ends in a large hammock meant to hold about 100 people. The hammock is placed at the end of the alley, which is a prime location for peoplle watching and enjoying the view.

Assignment 01 - Historical Research
American Embassy

There has been an American presence in Germany since the late 1700’s with the arrival of John Quincy Adams. However, an embassy was not created until the late 1800’s in Berlin.

During WW1, America’s presence almost disappeared. But, in 1930 the Blucher Palace at the Parisier Platz was purchased for use as the permanent location for the US Embassy. However, it caught fire in 1931 before it was fully integrated for Embassy functions. The Depression and the diminished relations with the Nazi regime slowed the repairs. In fact, the ambassador requested that the repairs didn’t happen because of the large Nazi rallies that occurred in the Parisier Platz. The presence of the American’s diminished over the next few years, and there was no official ambassador assigned to Berlin between ’39 & ‘41.

During the years prior to Pearl Harbor the words “USA” were placed on the top of the building in hopes that the British would not bomb the building. However, the building sustained severe damage. After the US entered the war, the Swiss took charge of the original building during that time.

When Bonn became the capital of West Germany in 1949, a US Embassy was opened in West Berlin away from the Parisier Platz. The original building, Blucher Palace, was demolished in 1957. With the Soviets in East Germany, the US did not establish an embassy, however, they created “US Mission Berlin”, which was located in Zehlendorf. US Mission Berlin worked separately from the US embassy in West Germany. Rather working with the US General in charge stationed in the east. This dual but disconnected presence is a unique historic situation.

With the fall of the Berlin wall the US made a conserted effort to unify their presence in the city by creating one location. Although the capital was Bonn, the Embassy stayed in Berlin and acted as a satellite office. The site of the original US Embassy straddled the East and West border and sat as a vacant lot until the 2004 groundbreaking for the new Embassy.

A competition was held in 1996 and the design was awarded to the California Architects Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners with Gruen Associates and the Berlin architectural firm Lunetto Fisher. The new building was completed in November of 2007, which marked the completion of the reconstruction of the Parisier Platz. Security was one of the main concerns when designing the building. Gardens are along each street and on the roof of the building. It houses artworks by Christo, Calder, Robert Rauschenberg, Annette Lemieux and Andy Warhol. A Sol LeWitt piece graces the Consular entry along the Behrenstrasse and Ebertstrasse.