An ecosystem in an urban space

In Berlin-Charlottenburg, where urban life pulsates and the River Spree is not far away, something new is rising into the sky: AERA - an office building that is more than just a workplace. It is a place of change, of well-being, of green thinking.

Terraced, flooded with light and open in design - AERA creates space for modern working in the middle of the city. A green island above the hustle and bustle that is not only a place of retreat, but also a home for birds, small animals - and ideas.

The building attracts life - an urban oasis for flora and fauna.
What is particularly remarkable is that the landscape is not a mere decoration, but a structural component of the building. A vertical, continuous park connects eight floors - from the first floor up to a height of 35 meters.
The trees not only serve as greenery, but are also firmly integrated into the supporting structure, anchored to the reinforced concrete ceilings and officially approved by the structural engineer - a manifesto of the fusion of architecture and nature.

Initial situation
The original plan here was for the “Werkbundstadt” - a model city with over a thousand apartments on the site of the former combined heat and power plant in the west of Berlin. However, the various stakeholders failed to reach a joint agreement on objectives. It was not until years later that the construction of the “AERA” office building provided a new impetus for upgrading the area.

Mierendorffinsel is to develop into an innovative archipelago and a green manifesto for a different kind
of city. The building impresses with a new idea of urbanity: open-plan offices connected by 2,200 m² of green roof areas.

Public open space for everyone is possible everywhere
The cascading staggering of the floors creates the basis for a continuous park landscape that extends across the entire building. Seamless paths connect the first floor with the 8th floor, creating a green axis.
The gently modeled transitions between the floors, filled with topsoil, do not form classic terraces, but a continuous, designed park landscape - a spatial extension of the adjoining offices where people can work in the open air. Shade, wind, air and scents enrich the working day.
The fusion of architecture and nature creates an innovative, lively space that interweaves indoor and outdoor areas and establishes a direct link to the urban landscape.

The public has free access to this impressive roofscape, which is guaranteed by an urban development agreement with the district office
Charlottenburg.
The eighth floor can be reached barrier-free via an elevator or the staircase, which leads upwards in gentle, step-like
arches. A 480-metre-long path runs along the top level along trans
transparent balustrades, which offers visitors numerous possibilities: They can linger on benches and wooden platforms, engage in sporting activities or simply enjoy the view over Berlin.
This special place combines relaxation, social interaction and architectural innovation - and is inviting for everyone.
The roof garden is an outstanding example of innovative landscape architecture: it provides access to nature in an urban space and takes into account both climate change and the needs of the users. With its aesthetic and technical standards, it provides new impetus for urban development.