2_2_DiscoverGermany_Issue6:Scan Magazine 1
8/8/13
16:08
Page 22
A renovated three-storey building from the year 1904 in the Großbeerenstraße.
On the rooftops of Berlin The architectural office Scholz-Sielecki renovates old buildings Ms Gabriele Scholz-Sielecki and her small team of architects specializes in renovating turn-of-the-century buildings. TEXT: JESSICA POMMER | PHOTOS: ARCHITEKTURBÜRO SCHOLZ-SIELECKI
Berlin is a trendy city whose dynamics are also reflected in its real estate market. Rents are rising continuously and increasing demand for property is contrasted by limited space. This gap is counterbalanced by the transformation of already existing buildings into condominiums. When you stroll through Germany´s capital you can observe many beautiful buildings that date from the turn of the century and are privately owned. The owners of the turn-of-thecentury buildings try to preserve their assets for future generations by doing restoration work on them. This is where Ms Gabriele Scholz-Sielecki appears on the scene. She opened her architectural office in 1989 and has since then saved many old buildings in the Berlin-Brandenburg-Potsdam area from decay. For example, she completed a project in Potsdam, where a three-storey building from the year
22 | Issue 6 | August 2013
1904 was renovated.“When renovating old buildings the first thing we do is to overhaul all parts where energy is emitted such as the roof, windows, doors and the heating system,”explains Ms Scholz-Sielecki.“Apart from the areas which could be preserved, the old parts such as the electric installations, the sewage system and the floor were completely restored. We renovated the roof but we conserved the basic form. The outer façade with its mouldings was elaborately
Dipl-Ing. Gabriele Scholz-Sielecki
renewed. In order to put focus on the building´s edge we furnished it with a turret,”explicates Ms Scholz-Sielecki. Now the building in the Großbeerenstraße (Großbeeren Street) shines in new splendour. Yet, state promotions for house renovations were cancelled in 2002. Thus a complete house renovation has become very expensive for the house owners, which has resulted in a decreased demand. Fortunately, Gabriele Scholz-Sielecki also takes on herself the challenge of constructing new houses. One of her most extraordinary projects was the construction of a rotunda house on the island of Java. As Ms ScholzSielecki is constantly busy with her business in Berlin she never managed to visit the building on site. But with the construction of new buildings such as this she can maintain her level of orders. www.scholz-sielecki.de
Heinrich-Seidel-Strasse Berlin Steglitz