This project critically examines contemporary architectural practice in its handling of the built heritage of West Berlin modernism from the 1970s. Using the example of the former Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, located near the main train station, it proposes an alternative strategy for dealing with existing buildings. While the building is currently being demolished, adjacent plots — including an ALDI supermarket and a police station — are also slated for redevelopment. A 2022 urban design competition proposes the complete demolition of the area and the construction of a new 97-meter-tall building with 120,000 square meters of floor space. 

Given today’s economic, ecological, and social conditions, such large-scale projects seem increasingly unrealistic. The risks of high costs and delays are significant. At the same time, the transitional area between Moabit and Mitte still lacks affordable housing and open social infrastructure — aspects overlooked in the competition proposal.


The project therefore proposes a different approach:
Existing structures are integrated into a new spatial and typological system. Density is increased through vertical extensions and targeted infill development. At the core is a rethinking of conventional development models that prioritize demolition over continued use. Such “tabula rasa” strategies ignore the spatial, cultural, and ecological values of the existing built environment. This project demonstrates the transformative potential of continuity — architecturally, socially, and ecologically.

ULAP Quarter:
In addition to architectural reorganization, the project also suggests a redistribution of responsibility and ownership. The site could be transferred to cooperatives through leasehold arrangements, allowing development based on concrete neighborhood needs. A social survey reveals a high demand for shared spaces for families, students, seniors, migrants, and other groups. This diversity forms the basis for a mixed-use development with thematic zoning. Preserving the existing structure avoids around 8,687 tons of CO₂ — with no new building emissions. At the same time, cooperative development enables the creation of permanently affordable housing.

Former State Laboratory:
The first building scheduled for demolition is the former Berlin-Brandenburg State Laboratory, designed in the 1970s by Peter Brinkert. With 14,147 m² of usable floor space and Vierendeel trusses, it offers wide spans and 3.8-meter ceiling heights — ideal conditions for repurposing. In this project, former laboratory becomes the “Lebenslabor” (laboratory of life): a place for new forms of living and working that respond to the diversity and flexibility needed in Berlin’s housing sector. The ground floor opens up to the neighborhood, while the upper floors house three different living