The Prenzlauer Berg bakery is undergoing an expansion
In the vibrant district of Prenzlauer Berg, the historic Backfabrik is set for an expansion, with plans to build a new office building in a style reminiscent of the past. The project, spearheaded by the company Padovicz, will see the construction of a six-story building, featuring historicized facades.
Originally designed by Marc Kocher Architects in the 1990s, the Backfabrik, once a bakery, has since transformed into a popular media and office location. The new building will be built on the foundation of a single-story building erected in the mid-2000s, which currently houses a John Reed fitness studio. The facade design of the old building will be continued, creating a seamless transition.
The expansion will add an additional 5,700 square meters to the commercial location, with the new building set to be constructed wall-to-wall with the luxury hotel SoHo House at the corner of Prenzlauer Allee and Saarbrücker Straße.
The expansion plans for the Backfabrik have a history of their own, with the building ordinance for the project being approved by the district at the end of the 1990s. However, it is only now, over 20 years later, that the expansion is being implemented.
The district, unfortunately, has no means to prevent the massive expansion of the Backfabrik ensemble, a fact that is not well-received by all parties involved. Adjacent to this development, extensive construction work is also planned at the historic Backfabrik.
The Prenzlauer Allee, a significant part of the district, is set to undergo significant changes due to renovation and development projects. The design of the Backfabrik aims to create a harmonious whole from different buildings of various construction periods.
Despite the area not yet being fully developed, the Backfabrik area is not new to construction. Bötzow Berlin GmbH & Co. KG, for instance, is developing a modern medical, office, and residential location on the former Bötzow brewery site, a project that was planned in the 2000s but never realized.
A striking feature of the Backfabrik is the twelve-meter-high light sculpture that dominates its rooftop. The expansion project, while controversial, promises to maintain the historic charm of the area while modernizing it to meet the needs of the present.
