BWH Liesenbrucke

BWH LIESENBRÜCKEN

HISTORY

The origin of the idea and the lead architects of the Liesenbrücken project are Ana Salinas and Gilbert Wilk of Wilk-Salinas Architekten. The vision arose in 2006 during a walk along the Berlin Wall trail. Originally the insertion of a boutique hotel into the large bridge was planned. Over the years the concept developed further into a multifunctional ensemble.

After lengthy negotiations with Deutsche Bahn and the Landesdenkmalamt, the project was refined step by step and increasingly gained the approval and appreciation of authorities, residents, architects and engineers. In 2017 the CapRate group joined as investor, and together with a highly creative and committed engineering team the project was developed further until phase 4 was completed and planning permission granted. Deutsche Bahn has now reclaimed the bridge, and the project is currently on hold.

PROJECT

The Liesenbrücken in Berlin’s Mitte district are among the last surviving testimonies of the former north-south railway line. The two steel bridges that survive today were built between 1896 and 1897 and are characteristic examples of Wilhelminian engineering; originally there were four bridges, two of which were demolished.

Over the decades they were reinforced several times in order to withstand the increasing railway loads. After the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, which ran directly above the tracks, the line lost its importance and the bridges ended up in an urban no-man’s-land.

The heart and creative starting point of the entire development are the Liesenbrücken. According to the plans of Wilk-Salinas Architekten, the larger of the two is to be transformed into a three-storey, barrier-free and publicly accessible event venue with around 2,000 m² of gross floor area. The new structures fit into the steel corset of the existing arched bridges. The interior remains airy, with variable, open and generous spaces. The steel truss structure of the railway monument remains visible and becomes the calling card of the new venue. As things stand, a cultural or gastronomic use appears just as conceivable as occupation by one or several service providers.

After extensive repair works, the smaller of the Liesenbrücken will be integrated as a pedestrian and cycle path into a new green connection between the Humboldthain and the park at Nordbahnhof. This considerably extends the possibility of covering longer distances on foot or by bicycle away from road traffic and at the same time connects these two well-known and much-visited parks of the city.

The overall project is complemented by a new building on the adjacent plot on Scheringstraße. This building serves as the entrance to the bridge and at the same time houses the economic engine of the whole ensemble, a hotel use. The floor plan organisation and the geometry of the storeys have been optimised so that all interiors achieve the quality that such an iconic project deserves.

The Liesenbrücken project combines heritage conservation, contemporary architecture and urban connectivity. It creates a new public axis between two important green spaces and transforms a long-neglected area into a lively place of encounter and remembrance, directly on the Berlin Wall cycle route and centrally located near the main station.