As a part of the hype around residential towers – whether as upmarket property or as an intelligent, green high-rise – the discussion also circles ways to make this kind of living environment affordable for a large number of residents. Where residential towers are raised in top locations, rental and purchasing costs will, as a consequence, inevitably be high as well. On the other hand, the seemingly obvious alternative location at the city’s periphery is redolent of cardinal architectural sins such as plattenbau (industrialised apartment blocks of the GDR) and satellite towns.
“Vertical Visions” offer affordable housing space for everyone
More than 40.000 people move to Berlin each year, and the trend is increasing. An urban lifestyle with modern amenities in the heart of the city is as popular as ever, causing problems in its wake. Housing space is scarce and new construction projects are expensive. Two graduates of the “Beuth Hochschule für Technik Berlin” (Beuth university of technics in Berlin) have addressed this predicament – their smart solution, called “Vertical Visions” has gained a lot of attention. The concept was designed as a part of a master thesis by Thomas Nurna and Vasilios Tsitiridis.“Vertikale Kieze”, as their project is sometimes referred to, is aiming to prove the feasibility of generating affordable housing space within the city railway ring of Berlin. Standardised blocks in remote areas and other high-rising sins of the past serve as a deterrent for both graduates. The concept will forego five-star hotels, open space offices maintained by large business companies and large shopping centres. The intention is to create low-priced rental apartments and plenty of commercial/business areas.
A promising future prospect of construction in Berlin?
This simplified version of a tower could actually become a solution for Berlin and many other German cities. This kind of high-rise could be built with a square base of 40 by 40 metres, reaching a height of up to 300 metres. What makes this concept special is the idea of a construction technique of levels, creating floors with different features, piled up on top of each other as combinable elements. These modular levels come with projections and open space, offering room for terraces and gardens. Suspended from a steel structure, they allow for an individual form of construction, depending on the residents’ needs. The core will contain lifts, stairwells, technical and utility room. With an estimated height of 250 metres, a high-rise like this would come with 60 floors.
Towers with different profiles
These cost-effective basic modules can house apartments as well as commercial areas, offices, shops and surgeries. With a base area of four by four metres, they can be combined and extended to become apartments (starting with a living space of 32 square metres, a supermarket, recreational facilities, cinemas and fitness studios. Nurna and Tsitiridis put stress on necessities. Bakeries, butcheries, grocery stores, drug stores, pharmacies, day care facilities, cafés, restaurants and primary health care are meant to cover basic needs and follow a classic Berlin principle of combining living and working environment. The terraces provide room enough for resting places, playgrounds and recreational areas as well as gardens, parks and public places. Following Berlin’s senatorial policy, this project is justified by effectuating the “city of short distances”, concept that many cities deploy as a means to become more climate-friendly.
Piled districts – equivalent to lively quarters
The realisation of the classical Berlin block not in width but height has been accomplished with Nurna’s and Tsitiridis’ master thesis in the field of architecture and facilities engineering. With a top grade of 1.0 both have obtained jobs in one of Berlin’s most prestigious architectural firms. According to Tsitiridis, “vertical visions” are not meant to become a mere office or hotel towers with a few affiliated apartments, but lively quarters that one might call “Vertikale Kieze” (vertical neighbourhoods).
