SAPPHIRE by Daniel Libeskind, Berlin

The SAPPHIRE construction scheme by Daniel Libeskind has 73 residential units, commercial space and underground car park. It is situated in a prime central location in Berlin’s Mitte district, within easy reach of the “Naturkundemuseum” underground station. The new headquarters of the German Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst – BND) are located nearby. PORR’s Berlin branch was commissioned to act as coordinating general contractor for the complete turnkey construction work as well as for the general planning from phase V of the HOAI (Fee Structure for Architects and Engineers).

Not only the building itself is unique, the flats are as well. Each individual flat bears the unmistakable signature of the architect Libeskind.

All the flats in the project are grouped around a leafy inner courtyard. An Edeka supermarket is located on 1000m² of the ground floor. Floors one to six are occupied by owner-occupier flats, featuring two to three rooms each and ranging in size from 40m² to 110m². All the flats have their own balcony or terrace.

A top class architectural design project

The building is characterised by its buckled and pleated ceramic façade, a typical Libeskind feature, which is coated with a specially made metal powder. The building appears to change colour depending on how the light falls on it. The large, asymmetrical windows are a key feature of the design. They ensure that each flat receives maximum daylight.