Discover Germany | Special Theme | All Eyes on German Architecture 2019Move Management
New FAZ headquarters, Frankfurt Main.
Beyond the scale “If I can help making our cities a little better by offering more life quality to many, then I have done a good job.” (Eike Becker) TEXT: CORNELIA BRELOWSKI I PHOTOS: EIKE BECKER_ARCHITEKTEN
The Berlin-based firm works on architectural concepts defined by the challenging issues of today, such as densification, digitisation and individualisation. In connection with a refined sense for the varying interests of different social groups, unique buildings are created which meet manifold demands. “Growing cities have to include and manage more and more aspects,” says architect and founder Eike Becker. “They raise questions about urban planning which we as architects must find the answers for”. One of those answers at Eike Becker is their ‘Superferenz’ design method: a planning tool making use of rivalling powers and contrasts to shed light on the various facets of a theme, looking at it from different perspectives. Thus, solutions come to pass which satisfy the most varied requirements. 82 | Issue 73 | April 2019
After studying in Aachen, Stuttgart and Paris, Eike Becker underwent many challenging but rewarding times at renowned offices such as Norman Foster Associates and Richard Rogers Partnership. In 1991, he co-founded his first office in collaboration with architects Gewers, Kühn & Kühn. Since 1999, the architect has led Eike Becker_Architekten together with Helge Schmidt. The development mirrors a shift from “effective solitary buildings” to large-scale projects which “put the urban context front and centre”. 2019 holds big prospects for the architects: a large-scale planning project at the Offenbach Kaiserlei-Kreisel which converts the old Siemens office buildings into residential towers by means of the Vertical Village concept is in its construction phase. In Berlin, the collaboration with a communal housing association will amount to creating a residential area by the Havel river
with 2,000 rental flats, combining highquality architecture and sustainable energy supply with innovative mobility concepts and a variety of social offers.The new quarter stands for the idea of high-quality living and an attractive location by the waterside made available at moderate rent levels. The Europa-Allee in Frankfurt will soon be enriched by new headquarters for the FAZ (Franfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), which will be completed in 2020 – and together with renowned Hamburg-based Hadi Teherani architects, Eike Becker_Architekten have recently won the competition to build the National Iranian Gas Company headquarters (at the end of February). Earning the commission to build a 60-metre-high business tower at the Augsburg innovation park followed at the beginning of March. With more than 20 projects in the pipeline, the office will still, however, happily take the time to enjoy their 20th anniversary at the end of this year with friends, business partners and colleagues. www.eb-a.de