When transforming and repurposing the former post office, LXSY ARCHITEKTEN considered the history of the building and how it could be reinterpreted. Selected historical elements were incorporated into the design thanks to a close collaboration with the Denkmalamt. Over the course of the transformation, two co-working and event spaces were created: FULL NODE and SPIELFELD.
The transformation and conversion of the former Berlin SO 36 post office on Skalitzer Strasse according to historical preservation guidelines has created a new, vibrant space for innovation. The freestanding post office building was erected in 1927 on a former parade ground according to a preliminary design by Postbaurat Jacob and under the direction of Oberpostbaurat Fritz Nissle. The long five-storey block is located on the elevated railway line on Skalitzer Straße between the Görlitzer Bahnhof and Schlesisches Tor underground stations. The brick building was built using a reinforced concrete structure. With its elaborately designed street front, the building stands out compared to most post office buildings of the 1920s in Berlin. The broad central risalit not only emphasises the monumentality of the building, but also its main entrance. The upper storeys of the building are structured and accentuated by vertical pilaster strips. White, small-scale mullioned wooden windows ornament the facade. Serrated friezes and a recessed attic storey with a crenellated crown form a richly structured structural finish. To the rear is the single-storey counter hall with a polygonal floor plan, which was elaborately decorated according to plans drawn up by Fritz Borchert. The interior of the former post office was almost completely lost as a result of war damage and repeated structural remodelling. The building can be accessed from all floors via a central corridor system.
The minimalist design of the co-working and event space pays respect the monumentality of the building. Limited interventions and materials emphasise the existing features. In the Spielfeld Digital Hub's corporate studios and at events in the open café, lounge and event areas, established companies and start-ups are able to play off of each other and drive topics within digital transformation. Zones with different places to stay and work invite users to move around and exchange ideas. A strong recurring colour scheme ranging from dove blue to fiery red as well as selected surfaces and materials complete the minimalist appearance for contemporary working. Special attention was paid to the former hexagonal post office counter hall and the original colour scheme in the Spielfeld Digital Hub. As digitalisation-themed events are a focal point of the new location, it will mostly be used as an event location. Flexible use of the space is made possible thanks to the fixed position of a stage and surrounding break-out areas for workshops. The interior space can be divided into different sections as required using curtains.
The concept of the FULL NODE co-working space promotes communication and different ways of working for blockchain companies through a variety of intermediate spaces. The original open-plan layout takes advantage of the elongated space to create a coherent spatial continuum for 100 workstations, which, in addition to a feeling of spaciousness, also provides room for communication and tranquillity as well as dynamism and concentration. The room-within-a-room concept fits naturally into the existing structure. The possibility of open and closed rooms allows for natural ventilation. This low-tech approach is also reflected in a sensitive lighting concept. Transparent glass walls and acoustic measures enable focused work areas, while open communication areas with lounges allow for a quick exchange of ideas. Using only selected materials results in a playful spatial constellation that allows for multi-coding. The combination of the entrance area with reception counter and adjoining café area as well as the open workshop, event and various meeting rooms in different sizes creates a well functioning system of fixed and flex co-working areas.
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