PTB Umbau Observatorium

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, reconstruction of the observatory

The nucleus of the PTB, the observatory – the world's oldest physics laboratory, built between 1887 and 1891 and listed as a Berlin monument – is being renovated in accordance with conservation guidelines and will regain its original façade and silhouette, which were lost during the Second World War.

The reconstruction of the observatory's roof structure is largely based on the historical design in terms of its cubic volume. The details have been adapted to today's construction options. The restoration of the observatory is logically followed by an approximation of the historical park on the grounds of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt. The restored building can be experienced in the context of this garden.

The original materials, yellow clinker bricks in the old Reich format, sandstone, wood and large-format metal plates made of zinc, determine the exterior appearance of the reconstructed roof. The design of the structural details offers opportunities for a simplified construction compared to the historical original.

Publications

03/2014:

da! Architektur in und aus Berlin“ Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB Berlin

06/2016:

Architekturführer Berlin

09/2016:

Braun Verlag „green,greener,greenest“

Awards

08/2008: 1. Preis in einem WTO-offenen Wettbewerb

Adress

Abbestraße 2-12, 10587 Berlin

Client

Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (BBR)

Team

Alexandra BarreAntónio HenriquesChristian HuberJoachim StaudtJulian AronsJördis PetzoldJörg WichLeander MoonsMagdalena FalskaNatalia Novoa VidalSebastian KroekerTobias SchäferWolfgang Staudt