BIMSB Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology
AWARDING AUTHORITY
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine Berlin
PROGRAM
Laboratories, analysis stations, animal husbandry, offices, cafeteria, kitchens, communication areas, room for events
GFA 11.200 sqm
TCC 42,200,000 € gross
RESULTS
Restricted architectural competition with application process by RPW
with INNIUS GTD
2012-2013
The BIMSB claims for itself to be an innovative new establishment which is interdisciplinary equipped with the latest technologies. It is 24/7 in an operating state and located in the center of Berlin Mitte. International teams of researchers are working here in flat hierarchies.
The architectural idea of the BIMSB is a simple self-conscious cube that acts as a sculpture on a pedestal. The design provides a tower shaped building to reach a maximum distance to the surrounding buildings and to create free space. The height of the building refers to the Charité building and Wall Street Institute. The pedestal is two stories high and provides an urban connection the pavilions of the Humboldt University. A new representative square is created in front of the BIMSB that also defines a new appropriate entrance situation to the campus of life sciences. Poplars that are standing at the southern border of the property contribute to defining the identity of the exterior and façade design.
The distribution of different functions is based on the model of Homebases and technology platforms. Four functions are arranged around the serving central core on the standard floor of the tower. To the east the communication wing is located. The elevators as well as the bar with a lounge area and balcony are located around an open staircase that provides views to the different floors. The informal communication is encouraged by combining the vertical and horizontal connections in the building. The technology platform is situated further south. To the north the head offices are located. The generous Homebase that is situated further west holds most of the floor space. The division is similar in the pedestal floors. Furthermore the spacious foyer that extends over two stories provides the interface for external communication. The foyer holds publicly accessible areas for exhibitions and a bar with a lounge area. The area for larger events and meetings is flexibly divisible and connected with the foyer. In the following the vertical axis of communication leads into the cafeteria on the top floor with a roof terrace and a view over Berlin and the campus of life sciences. The floors are divided into 400 sqm sections of usable areas. Therefore a flexible organization and simple future adjustments are possible. The basis for the layout of the floors is an utilization unit that is adjacent to the façade and predominantly used for offices. Deeper areas for the use as S-Lab, Wetlab or Lab Light are offered inside. With the increasing virtualization of the laboratories, the quantity of classic wetlabs will be decreasing and the spaces for Lab Light or computer laboratories will be increasing.
The façade is circumferentially glazed and partly covered with sun protection elements of expanded metal. Even the inner areas of the building obtain light and have contact to the outside through the glass walls of the narrow office area. The sun protection is complemented by moveable external venetian blinds. The discreet play with height, length and position of the white panels creates a subtle interaction between physicality and transparency, resolution and massiveness from the outside. The perceptible basic order symbolizes the area that already had been researched, the existing disorder represents the field that has yet to be explored.
The architectural idea of the BIMSB is a simple self-conscious cube that acts as a sculpture on a pedestal. The design provides a tower shaped building to reach a maximum distance to the surrounding buildings and to create free space. The height of the building refers to the Charité building and Wall Street Institute. The pedestal is two stories high and provides an urban connection the pavilions of the Humboldt University. A new representative square is created in front of the BIMSB that also defines a new appropriate entrance situation to the campus of life sciences. Poplars that are standing at the southern border of the property contribute to defining the identity of the exterior and façade design.
The distribution of different functions is based on the model of Homebases and technology platforms. Four functions are arranged around the serving central core on the standard floor of the tower. To the east the communication wing is located. The elevators as well as the bar with a lounge area and balcony are located around an open staircase that provides views to the different floors. The informal communication is encouraged by combining the vertical and horizontal connections in the building. The technology platform is situated further south. To the north the head offices are located. The generous Homebase that is situated further west holds most of the floor space. The division is similar in the pedestal floors. Furthermore the spacious foyer that extends over two stories provides the interface for external communication. The foyer holds publicly accessible areas for exhibitions and a bar with a lounge area. The area for larger events and meetings is flexibly divisible and connected with the foyer. In the following the vertical axis of communication leads into the cafeteria on the top floor with a roof terrace and a view over Berlin and the campus of life sciences. The floors are divided into 400 sqm sections of usable areas. Therefore a flexible organization and simple future adjustments are possible. The basis for the layout of the floors is an utilization unit that is adjacent to the façade and predominantly used for offices. Deeper areas for the use as S-Lab, Wetlab or Lab Light are offered inside. With the increasing virtualization of the laboratories, the quantity of classic wetlabs will be decreasing and the spaces for Lab Light or computer laboratories will be increasing.
The façade is circumferentially glazed and partly covered with sun protection elements of expanded metal. Even the inner areas of the building obtain light and have contact to the outside through the glass walls of the narrow office area. The sun protection is complemented by moveable external venetian blinds. The discreet play with height, length and position of the white panels creates a subtle interaction between physicality and transparency, resolution and massiveness from the outside. The perceptible basic order symbolizes the area that already had been researched, the existing disorder represents the field that has yet to be explored.
