Courtyard M8

The brief asked for a new organisation of a courtyard within an old Wilhelminian house situated in Münzstrasse 8, Berlin-Mitte. A clever, atmospheric solution for the location of bins and bike parking was the clients main interest. The possiblities for new plantation and green areas was limited as a basement is situated below the entire courtyard not allowing for much depth. The basic idea is a new concrete surface, with a finely chiseled surface which over time allows for different ratios of mosses and lichens. A long planter is placed on the surface itself with a surrounding circular wooden bench. The house is attached to the neighbouring partition garden wall to the rear of the courtyard, which creates a more generous impression of the limited space available. The appearance of the house is marked by the sensuous materiality of the stamped concrete wall,the solid timber construction, the green roof and the long planter. The stamped concrete wall was built in 20 cm high segments per day by hand and is reinforced with recycled glass in various colours. The wood of the green roof is flamed for aesthetic reasons and to protect it from excessive weathering. The roof is planted intensively with various plants, shrubs and grasses, which creates different color schemes and scents every season and to give the whole place a distinctive atmosphere.