OMA's axel springer media campus nears completion in berlin

over the past year, photographer nils koenning has been documenting the progress of the OMA-designed axel springer media campus in berlin. in august 2018, the form of the building had taken shape, and by february of this year the structure had received most of its cladding. now, with the project nearing completion, koenning shares his latest photography of the building, which will serve as the new headquarters for the german publishing company.

image © nils koenning (also main image)

with the cladding appearing complete, koenning’s images highlight the building’s dramatic glazed atrium, which continues internally as a valley. this creates an informal stage at the center of the building, where ideas can be broadcast to other parts of the company. ‘the design was developed around a series of terraced floors that together form a digital valley,’ explains OMA. ‘each floor contains a covered part as a traditional work environment, which is then uncovered on the terraces. halfway through the building, the valley is mirrored to generate a three dimensional canopy.’

image © nils koenning

once open, the public will also be able to experience the building on three different levels: the ground floor lobby, which contains studios, event, and exhibition spaces; the meeting bridge, a viewing platform where visitors can witness the daily functioning of the company; and a roof-top bar. the project — which signifies axel springer’s move from print to digital media — has special significance to OMA founder rem koolhaas, who was a journalist before beginning his architectural studies. see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

image © nils koenning

project info:

name: axel springer media campus
location: berlin, germany
client: axel springer
architect: OMA
photography: nils koenning