Modular, smart office Cube Berlin is energy-efficient inside and out
Award-winning Danish architectural firm 3XN has announced the opening of Cube Berlin, a modular smart office wrapped in an energy-efficient, glazed facade. Situated within historic square Washingtonplatz in the heart of Berlin, the office is poised to become a new landmark of Europe that will showcase the city’s latest advancements in sustainable architecture and technology.
According to Torben Østergaard, the 3XN partner in charge of the project, the initial goal of the project was to create a building that would add to the aesthetic of the area. The goals of engaging passersby, providing elevated office spaces and offering new value to the famous Berlin skyline were paramount, but the company also wanted to explore new ways that a building could interact with its surroundings. The sculptural design is a response to the site’s existing character and size. Kim Herforth Nielsen, founder and creative director of 3XN, added that they wanted to show that healthy, productive work places don’t have to sacrifice sustainability.
Related: Sustainable tech powers the Corten steel-clad Cube in Denmark
On every level, Cube Berlin boasts outside terraces, all of which are integrated into the glazed facade. Reflective glazing creates new ways for viewers on the street to experience their city, creating a kaleidoscope-like effect. There are 10 floors of multi-tenant office spaces that can be adapted according to preference in addition to a food market on the ground floor, an office lobby, underground parking, plant rooms, a rooftop terrace and conference areas. In terms of above-ground area, Cube Berlin encompasses 19,500 square meters of modular space. Thanks to an osmotic skin, innovative design and application of solar coatings of the outer layer, the fully glazed facade is highly energy-efficient.
Office occupants will enjoy an intelligent digital user interface achieved through a personalized app that interacts with the building. Customizable smart features include access control, indoor heating and cooling, maintenance, energy supply, room and parking reservations and the charging of electric cars or bicycles. This digital brain also monitors energy flow and consumption for efficiency as well as self-learning to adjust and adapt the building’s settings according to each user’s needs.
Photography by Adam Mørk via 3XN
Written by Katherine Gallagher
