OMA chosen ahead of BIG and ole scheeren to build axel springer campus
image courtesy of axel springer / OMA

 

 

 

it has been announced that OMA will undertake the construction of axel springer‘s media campus in central berlin. the selected proposal saw off competition from bjarke ingels group (BIG) and büro ole scheeren. the brief called for a design that created additional space for the existing site, able to comfortably accommodate the organization’s growing business divisions and offices. rem koolhaas’ office will now develop their initial ideas, before a contract is issued based on the feasibility of the scheme. the winning entry is defined by its ‘open valley’ concept – a 30-meter high atrium oriented to face the existing building. interconnected terraces and public workspaces create an environment which enables both individual and collaborative work.

 

‘it is a wonderful occasion to build in berlin again, on this historical site of all places, for a client who has mobilized architecture to help perform a radical change… a workplace in all its dimensions’, commented rem koolhaas upon winning the competition.

 

prof. dr. friedrich von borries, president of the jury explained how the panel reached their conclusion: ‘there is a high symbolic value in good architecture. good architecture influences its surroundings. but also apart from this aspect the competition for the new axel springer campus also raised the question of how we want to work in the future. the concept submitted by rem koolhaas offered a spectacular answer to this, which opens up a completely new working and communication landscape to its future users.’

 

‘we are very happy to be able to build the new building of our publishing house together with rem koolhaas. he presented the conceptually and esthetically most radical model. the fundamental innovation of working environments will support the cultural transformation towards a digital publishing house. at the same time, I thank ole scheeren and bjarke ingels for their excellent concepts which also offered creative and passionate answers to our requirements,’ added dr. mathias döpfner, chief executive officer of axel springer SE.

 

see designboom’s previous coverage of the development, including OMA’s winning proposal, here.