An Extension to a Gründerzeit House in Berlin

Supertype Group has extended an old building in Berlin's Pankow district with a conservatory, a flexible construction system that can be dismantled and replaced without destruction. The young Berlin architectural collective used the space at the courtyard entrance to add a narrow side wing to the existing building. In contrast to the massive appearance of the Wilhelminian-style building, the extension appears light and transparent. It is a generously glazed timber structure that blurs the boundaries between inside and outside and incorporates the adjacent garden.

The filigree extension is attached to the Wilhelminian-style house like a greenhouse. © Tobias Schrammek

The entire structure is formulated as a wooden grid, equipped with various structural elements such as thermally activated joist ceilings, timber frame walls and transparent internal facades. The basic structure allows for a variety of use scenarios, and access is also kept flexible: for example, the staircase can be shortened or lengthened by adding or removing steps, depending on the position of the ceiling panels. The partially transparent and partially translucent shell covers the spatial structure, alternating between a sheltered cave and an airy tree house. 

The insulated zone with the living area and the conservatory in front of it, © Marina Hoppmann

The greenhouse facade protects the wooden structure from the weather. It also creates two climatic zones inside. One is the insulated and heated living area, which is thermally separated by walls and transparent internal facades. On the other hand, a spatial layer between the building envelope and the living area acts as a thermal buffer. It stores heat from the sun in winter, reducing the heating load. At the same time, it allows plants to overwinter. In summer, the generous window openings allow cross-ventilation of the small building, which is impressive for its spatial and climatic diversity.