Residential office in Charlottenburg by BBPA and Patrick Batek

Under the roof of a Wilhelminian-style building in Berlin-Charlottenburg, the architectural firm BBPA combined two apartments into an office with a large roof terrace. Thanks to natural materials and a room design by Patrick Batek, it has such a homely feel that you would love to move in.

by Judith Jenner, 20.01.2021

Attics are today what the Beletage was in Wilhelminian-style houses: the building's showpiece, the prestigious address. In most cases, private apartments are located under the roof - with a wide view over the city and plenty of daylight. This project by Bonauer Bölling Partnerschaft von Architekten (BBPA) at Fasanenplatz in Berlin-Charlottenburg, however, was about a modern attic office. The Berlin architects converted two once-separate apartments into a large office loft for a private equity firm from London.

Office with living room character
The location fit the vision of the client, who wanted an office floor with a living room character, a high quality of stay, playable outdoor spaces and plenty of natural light. "He wanted to try out a new concept, an office with a salon character that is simultaneously representative and offers space for events," says architect Markus Bonauer. Among other things, the large roof terrace, which - like the office - extends over the front building and side wing, is suitable for this.

From one cast
To create a homely atmosphere, the architects chose materials for the interior finishes that are usually found in private homes. There are wide oak floorboards in all rooms and also on the two staircases leading up to the roof. Not only the steps, but also the banisters and some of the tables are made of this material, creating a natural unity. They harmonize with the light gray tones of the upholstered furniture and carpets. Custom-made joinery fixtures and individually planned equipment for the workstations were adapted to the spatial proportions of the office. This style is continued in the conference rooms, the fitted kitchens and the bathrooms equipped with Vola fittings. For the interior design, Markus Bonauer and Michael Bölling cooperated with Berlin architect Patrick Batek. He curated the selection of furniture and accessories, right down to the cutlery. "Everything was to come from a single source," Markus Bonauer explains the client's requirement.

Quiet and representative
The 472-square-meter office, including the roof terraces, is divided in such a way that the rooms are suitable for both concentrated work and representative purposes. The northern part serves as an open working landscape for employees. They can choose between spacious desks, but also retreat to the sofas or hold informal meetings in the communal kitchen. For appointments with clients, there is a meeting area in the southern part of the building with a reception desk, fireplace lounge, boardroom and smaller conference rooms.

Bright and airy
"The special feature of the property lies in particular in the light and in the openness of the rooms with their height of up to six meters in some cases," explains Markus Bonauer. The furnishings in the existing building, which had not previously been designed for office use, presented special challenges. In particular, the architects had to make a lot of changes and retrofits to the building services within a short construction period. Numerous crane operations were necessary for the logistics.

The effort was worth it: With the conversion of the Berlin attic, BBPA implemented an unusual office concept for an exclusive client. The furnishing with furniture and materials from the living area creates a close atmosphere, which has a positive effect on customer meetings and the working atmosphere.

PHOTOGRAPHY Marcus Wend
Marcus Wend

Project	Office floor at Fasanenplatz
Task	Interior design, LPH 1-8, Product design furniture
Planning time	09/2018 - 06/2019
Construction time	01/2019 - 08/2019
Size	472m² GFA (incl. Terraces)
Team	Bonauer Bölling Partnerschaft von Architekten mbB, Markus Bonauer, M.Arch., Michael Bölling, Dipl.-Ing., Lukas De Pellegrin, Dipl.-Ing.
Interior design	Patrick Batek
Lighting design	PSLab

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