Roof conversion in Berlin

Antje Freiesleben

It is a task that has become rare: a roof destroyed in the war on a magnificent corner residential building is to be rebuilt. Together with the neighbouring buildings, it defines the street scene and enhances the backdrop to the neoclassical church of St Ludwig.
The building is constructed symmetrically across four storeys: a grand entrance on the corner, framed by a wrought-iron door entwined with vines. It is well maintained, though the pale, greyish-purple of the façade seems strangely alienating and cold.

Half of the roof was destroyed and had been provisionally sealed. The other half was dilapidated and contaminated with pollutants. Fire safety, town planning and heritage protection imposed strict constraints on the design. Only two flats were eligible for planning permission.

We added a few small dormers to the street-facing side of the roof and a gable that accentuates the corner on the square side. Together with the two corner turrets, which have now been rebuilt, the new gable restores the house’s original form, reinterpreted in a modern style. The central room behind the gable is allocated to one of the two flats. Here, one can experience the full extent of the roof’s dimensions. There is ample space for a staircase and a gallery with an exclusive access point leading to the courtyard.

On the courtyard side, there is a gently sloping roof that recedes in a few places, creating roof terraces.
Wood is the material used for the roof truss; in some places, the wood is left exposed. It is painted and integrated into the flow of the rooms.
The result is two finely detailed flats with both formal and private spaces, mirroring the layout of the floors below: open-plan and flooded with light, featuring terraces and views over the rooftops.

Project Gallery

Exterior view After-Before

Exterior view of the roof street - courtyard

Main living room behind the gable

Gallery in the main living-room

Interior view of the dormers

Living space in a second flat

Antje Freiesleben DE

https://mofrei.de/
Bayernallee 47 | 14052 Berlin