Design Team: Jonas Brandt, Dino Grobe
Technische Universität Berlin
"Music belongs to everyone. Only the record companies think that they can have it. "
- John Lennon
1. The city
1.1 World Metropolis
After the fall of the Berlin Wall there was remarkable development to the City. Over the last 10 years, Berlin has also grown into a domestic and international center for film, music and art.
The city is one of the most attractive cities in the world and one of the "best cities to live and work" (2011) in Europe, along with Paris and Amsterdam.
With the highest number of visitors, Berlin is top of the ladder holding the prize in (2012) as one of the ten best Historical Cities. Berlin is the hinge between East and West, connecting the world-renowned energetic nightlife - the list goes on.
What distinguishes Berlin from other cities?
Berlin is "poor but sexy": compared to many European capitals and other major German cities, the cost of living in Berlin is cheaper and the social pressure is not as strong. This leads to more demonstrative individuality: With its distinctive creative scene and its diverse cultural opportunities, Berlin exerts an enormous appeal to young and old.
2. The place
2.1 The past
In the early 20th Century, the Berlin region of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg were connected together by a bridge over the Spree. In 1906 by imperial decree the Bridge was honoured the name by Admiral Karl Rudolf Brommy. The Brommy Bridge was designed by architect Alfred Messel as an "off-road suitable bridge" and was completed in 1909. In the 19th Century there a railway line for freight transport as well as a Pedestrian Crossing but a direct road bridge didn’t exist. The road now that led over the bridge, got the name Brommy Street.
During World War II in order to impede the approaching of the Red Army, the bridge was blown up. Some pillar remnants were left in the water and was first cleared after the 1950s. The factories and residential buildings on the Brommy Street were demolished. With the construction of the wall all the evidence of the bridge disappeared however, Brommy Street was still included in Government records until 1974.
Where the Brommy Bridge stood, was also the dividing line between the Soviet and the American Sector of Berlin, between East and West Germany and between Eastern and Western Europe: here, the world was divided into two blocks. Escapes willingly kept trying to leave the Eastern sector of the remnants of the bridge piers towards Kreuzberg and paid for it with their life. Although there were plans to reconstruct The Brommy Bridge, it has still not been rebuilt.
2.2 Presence
Berlin became overtime a magnet for the music industry overtime. In 2002, the Germany-seat from Universal Music GmbH in Hamburg was moved to Berlin. In 2004 The European headquarters of the music channel MTV followed, previously based in London. Today in Friedrichshain you will find the most modern multifunctional arena in Europe, the O2 World. In Kreuzberg, on the opposite side of the Spree, there are many semi-professional and home studios. Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg are multicultural: young, colorful, loud, trendy areas, where the nightclubs conquer the Spree River and flows of people are on the move. Due to the division of Berlin, there are, as previously mentioned, still urban development area, which are often temporarily occupied at affordable prices until a final decision is made as what to do with the place. In the former Connection through the Brommy Bridge Region will now play in the truest sense of the word, the music.
3. The project
3.1 Surroundings
At the historic site where the Brommy Bridge once stood, in close proximity to the former army bakery that occupies the neighbouring properties, on the one hand surrounded by the highlights of the music industry and on the other by the spontaneous music scene, to the East Side Gallery, where the remains of the Berlin wall stands, our project is to be implemented: a professional recording studio and a production platform for young talents. A pedestrian bridge across the River Spree will connect both sides of the river.
Not only the old east-west axis between Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain be built new, but we will also take into account the socio-cultural environment and the new trends in the field of music. Here are a few examples:
● In the Wall Park, there is a stone Amphitheater, held every Sunday where you will find a privately organized karaoke meeting. A stone staircase and a round stage are sufficient to allow a spectacular event, attended by hundreds of people. The performances take the audience with gratitude, as it gives them a feeling of uniqueness: the artists seem "real" and not as the product of a talent show.
● The Modersohn Bridge over the S-Bahn tracks in Friedrichshain is regularly visited by groups of young people who want to witness the sunset.
This way of using the infrastructure made available in Berlin and possibly alienating is just "typical Berlin". We want to create a new professional platform.
3.2 Target
Our project serves as the link between the two regions: The Brommy studios would fill the historical gap at this location and the distance between the professional music segment, - the high-end music industry - and the semi-professional segment even when the most semi-professional musicians playing on the streets, in bars and cafes are reduced. The recording studio will meet the existing demand by artists for professional recording facility in Berlin, but also offer newcomers a chance: the transition from amateur musicians (school band) to professional musicians (space-to-space-shooting), in which most are unsuccessful, will be made easier by our Project
4. The building
4.1 Economy
The building provides space for every possible sound recording, from Solo Artists to the Orchestra and Choir. In the analysis of existing worldwide studios, we noticed that there are only a few big studios that work economically. They mostly owe their legendary accomplishment to the fact that famous stars have recorded there, which means that only a few of the major studios designed as sound studios are actually built. The best-known example is the Abbey Road Studios, which owe their utilization to the Beatles rather than the studio construction or the Architecture. Another special feature, which must always be taken into consideration, is the huge room or space requirements needed for the acoustic separation. One of the biggest problems that large studios have is therefore caused by the recording process high vacancy rate, combined with a complex and expensive area. The economy is often not guaranteed and therefore Brommy wants to counteract this with a special optimal functional architecture
4.2 Concept
The heart of the building - like as that of any professional recording studios - is the control room. Starting from this central space all other forms have been developed according to the principle "form follows function".
The building is also part of the creative conurbation. It combines the surrounding uses and brings them to a point. The recording studio is designed for a flexible, parallel utilization under heavy load.
4.3 Form
The building will be divided into two equal halves through on the first two floors (ground floor and 1st floor) In order to be another two full floors. Two stair cores push out of the building and are tapered at the top. There are fixed cables attached to secure the pedestrian bridge. The building is thus a gateway to the bridge. By changing floor levels, you give the body a certain tension. By changing the individual floors horizontally the architecture is emphasized. Cross current facade elements hold very large glass surfaces and pick up the rhythm of the building. It resembles layers of sediment that were carved by a river for centuries. The large reception rooms are interrelated as weightless in the frame and pierce it to the top. By their differing levels they act almost playful in spite of their size. Constantly elements interlink: Bridge and Buildings, rooms and floors, closed areas and open spaces. This interaction creates a positive excitement even though the building still exudes tranquility.
4.4 Function
Various uses are combined within the Brommy studios under one roof. Directly below the studio level (3rd floor), there is a visitor level in which one can experience studio concerts. Further exhibition space provides room for temporary exhibitions on the subject of music. Fans also have the opportunity to meet their favorite stars or them as they go up the stairs to cheer. The two great recording rooms A1 and A2 can be seen and accessed from both the 3rd floor and the 2nd floor. Directly below is the technology level. Here is a large part of the building services, which will be centralized and distributed throughout the entire building.
The bottom and the first floor are separated in half. The 1st OG is designed primarily for administration, office and studio equipment. On the visitor’s to the side is also a great "just-music-store" with an instrument workshop.
The input level is divided into the pro-area musicians and the visitor’s area. A spacious foyer with a fantastic Koi Tank will welcome the stars and professionals. On the visitor’s side, the newcomer will have a large number of financially affordable rehearsal spaces, which are also visible. This will be designed as the first station in the building on their way to the top, in the "Pro-Studios".
5. The Bridge
5.1 Form
The pedestrian bridge is a composite steel box-girder bridge with additional suspension on steel cables on two pylons. It stretches like a wide solid plate across the Spree and has different indentations on the "staircase" forming seating.
5.2 Function
Through its function as a link between two districts and music world’s addition provides the bridge with the aforementioned wells as a stage for street musicians and allows and promotes the spontaneous performances. The pedestrian can settle here and follow the performances alone.
5.3 Shore
The parking area on the Friedrichshain side takes the form of the main building on the Kreuzberg side, thus creating a clear affiliation. Small 'sound islands ", like the form of the control room of the recording studio, are distributed irregularly in the park near the bridge. The infrastructure will also be here to promote the performance and enjoyment of music. On the Friedrichshain to Kreuzberg side is clearly an increase in terms of density, mass and height can be seen. The influx of visitors will thus be of the East Side Gallery on the bridge and then directed into the Brommy studios.