The China Club is located at a prominent address on the top floor of the Adlon Palais, just a stone’s throw from the Brandenburg Gate. In an extension project completed in June 2022, a new storey was added to the building to give the club more space. The new, moving glass front provides spectacular views of the German capital’s main sites.
Architects Gerkan, Marg und Partner (gmp) were enlisted for the job. The aim of the renovation was to create more space for club members, combining the benefits of an open-air terrace in the summer and a sheltered interior in the winter. At the same time, it was important for the view to provide a perfect showcase for the sights of central Berlin. In addition to the construction of an enclosure around the existing terrace, the extension measures also included the modernisation and relocation of the building services areas.
Intricate support structure with overhead glazing
One of the challenges for gmp Architekten was that the entire extension had to rest on just a few bearing points, in order to incorporate the load in the virtually column-free existing structure. This problem was solved using an intricate exposed support structure with overhead glazing and an all-round glass front that can be opened across almost its entire width.
Spatial experiences without limits
In order to ensure that the glass front could be opened across its entire width of almost 18 metres on milder days, the architects opted for Solarlux’s cero II sliding window with double glazing. The cero II used on the top floor of the China Club comprises five individual elements, each approx. 3.6 x 2.75 metres in size. The elements can be slid open on a flush-mounted double floor track and “parked” in front of the outer wall. All-round frames just 34 mm in width mean the panels are made of 98 percent glass – so even when they’re closed, they offer almost completely unobstructed views over the rooftops of Berlin.
Sophisticated technology
Even without an electric motor, opening the sliding windows at the China Club couldn’t be easier. This is thanks to the cero II’s stainless steel sliding mechanism, which enables panels up to 600 kg in weight to glide smoothly along the tracks with minimal wear. Built-in track rollers guarantee even load distribution. Another factor in the system’s long service life is the glazing rebate ventilation, which reliably prevents condensation from forming in the space between the panes.
