The ‘Berclay’ medical and commercial building by TCHOBAN VOSS Architekten occupies the corner of Berliner Strasse and Clayallee in Berlin’s Steglitz-Zehlendorf district. Positioned at the intersection of major road links, the site forms part of an urban setting characterised by residential buildings, retail, and services.
A multipart urban complex
The redevelopment of the site introduced a multipart building complex with 9,080 square metres of gross floor area, comprising a 7,300-square-metre medical and commercial centre above ground and a 1,780-square-metre underground car park. The principal five-storey volume is complemented by a gable-ended block that marks the corner of Berliner Strasse, while a four-storey connecting building to the north-east aligns in height with the neighbouring houses.
Developed in close consultation with the district office, the massing and facade treatment respond to the surrounding urban fabric through a composition divided into distinct sections. A hipped roof clad in anthracite-coloured metal shingles completes the principal volume.
Structure, programme, and access
The structural frame, foundations, and external walls are constructed from reinforced concrete. Internal partitions are masonry within the ground-floor commercial units and drywall within the medical practices on the upper floors.
The retail spaces have wheelchair-accessible entrances, while two stairwells with lifts provide access to the upper floors. The underground car park is entered from Berliner Strasse beside the existing pedestrian crossing.
Facade materials and systems
The building is wrapped in a thermally insulated, rear-ventilated natural limestone facade. At ground level, grey Limes Dolomite limestone establishes a darker base, contrasting with the beige Mocca Creme limestone used on the upper storeys. The ground-floor stone has a honed finish, while the upper-level limestone is sanded. Joints are sealed and sanded to match the colour of the stone and the ground-floor facade is additionally protected with a colourless anti-graffiti coating.
Ground-floor glazing uses a mullion-transom system with a matte powder-coated finish. Shaft-mounted articulated-arm awnings with a two-metre projection provide external shading, with all visible components finished in the same matte powder coating.
On the upper floors, floor-to-ceiling aluminium windows are combined with motor-operated vertical awnings. The awning boxes and guide tracks are integrated into the facade, while removable underside covers provide access for maintenance.
The courtyard-facing facades are finished with a composite thermal insulation system and textured render. Above, the hipped roof is clad in zinc shingles, echoing the darker tones of the ground-floor limestone. A green roof was added to parts of a first-floor north-facing roof area.
Renewed public realm
Working closely with the local council, the forecourt was also revitalised as part of the redevelopment, strengthening the building’s relationship with its surroundings and giving the site a renewed urban character.
