Construction commences at shipbuilding dam: initiation of "Loisenblock" project
The "Luisenblock Ost" project, a significant development in Berlin-Mitte, is set to restart in December 2021, following a compromise reached in 2021 by the chairman of the building commission of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Kubicki (FDP). The project, which encompasses an area between Friedrichstraße station, Schiffbauerdamm, Luisenstraße, and Stadtbahntrasse, is estimated to require at least 140 million euros for its development.
The project's future direction is expected to be decided by summer 2022. The competition for the eastern area of the Luisenblock will only cover approximately 16,000 square meters, with 15 architectural firms participating. The western part of the Luisenblock (approximately 14,000 square meters) will be designed separately.
The architectural firm HK Hermann Kaufmann Architekten has been tasked with designing the new buildings as part of the competition for the expansion of the Federal Ministry of Finance. Meanwhile, Staab Architects are responsible for the ministry's expansion in Mitte.
The development aims to avoid a government location, prioritising ways through the block to the elevated train arcades, lively ground floors, affordable housing, and space for commercial areas. Citizens have expressed a desire for affordable housing, an attractive design of riverside paths, and the activation of spaces under the S-Bahn overpass. The development of bike infrastructure on the new site should be a focus.
The design by Kusus and Kusus, which had proposed a structural continuation of the "Band des Bundes" in 2009, has been criticised for years due to the potential demolition of historic buildings and an office building at Schiffbauerdamm 19. However, a compromise was found for the restart of the project, which stopped in 2020 due to a lack of political majority for the Kusus and Kusus design.
In a notable development, the Federal Office for Real Estate ("BImA") and trade union Verdi agreed to exchange properties in late summer 2021, with Verdi receiving a plot for a new building directly on the Spree. These offices are not intended to remain on the site for more than 15 years.
Interested parties can submit their suggestions until January 31, 2022. Visuals of the expanded Federal Chancellery are available for public viewing. Further projects in Mitte can also be found. The Land Berlin is committed to ensuring a balanced and vibrant development for the "Luisenblock Ost" area.
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