BUND Federal Head Office, Berlin

BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland) is putting its ecological aspirations into practice with the construction of its new national office. The five-storey office building is being constructed on the Vollgut site in Berlin’s Rollberg neighbourhood on an area that has already been sealed. The new BUND Head Office will offer around 180 employees modern workplaces as well as spacious seminar and meeting rooms. The communal and conference rooms, which are open to all BUND members, make the new building an attractive meeting place with added value for the community.

The construction consistently follows ecological principles, with an innovative timber-hybrid construction method and sustainable materials. Energy is supplied by a photovoltaic system on the roof, while a geothermal system ensures environmentally friendly heating. Despite the limited outdoor space in the courtyard and roof area, the concept emphasises maximum greening.

The open spaces

The open space design makes optimum use of the available open space. On the street side, the wooden façade, partly planted with climbing plants, characterises the image, complemented by a plant trough as a ramp side. The covered entrance area functions as a prestigious reception and passageway area, furnished with long tree-trunk benches. A patio five metres deep and forty metres wide forms an introverted retreat as a green gap. Here, a harmonious mix of native, shade-tolerant plants unfolds from structurally rich shrubs, perennials, ferns, grasses and ground cover.

The roof area of the BUND Head Office consists of various zones: A walk-on terrace with a wooden deck is divided by two circular, lushly planted islands. A green pergola provides partial shade. The photovoltaic modules are located in the extensively greened roof areas, harmoniously combining technical functionality and ecological added value.