CRCLR-Haus

The CRCLR building on the former site of the Kindl brewery in Berlin-Neukölln was remodelled and extended in 2023 in line with the principles of the circular economy. The building, a historic hall from the late 19th century, was rebuilt in the 1950s and now houses co-working spaces and offices. The architects focussed on the reuse of materials and the preservation of the building fabric, overcoming challenges such as contaminated wood and damaged masonry. The building was extended with reused materials from demolition sites and residual materials from industry.

When the hall roof structure was dismantled, 120 steel beams up to 18 metres long were recovered, some of which were used for the supporting structure of the staircase. In order to reuse these beams, however, welding and load-bearing capacity tests were required, which meant additional effort in terms of time and costs. The structural steel was also originally intended for a planned greenhouse and balconies on the west façade, but due to increased costs, these elements were cancelled.

The installation of reused windows in the CRCLR building is a successful example of the circular economy in construction practice. The architects acquired 140 windows from an insurance claim and adapted them to the technical requirements themselves. By converting them from double to triple glazing, they met the energy requirements. This resulted in a 30 cm higher room height, for which an exemption was granted. The project emphasises the creative use of recycled materials and the responsible use of resources.