Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin,
proj.: JEMS Architekci
At Unter den Linden 70-72 in Berlin, next to the Brandenburg Gate, construction of the Polish embassy headquarters has been completed after 13 years. The grand opening ceremony will take place on Friday, January 17. Will it be "the pride of Polish diplomacy"?
long road -
the turbulent history of the polish embassy
The plot of land at Unter den Linden 70-72 was donated by the GDR authorities to the communist government in the 1960s. An office building of the "Leipzig" type (a several-story corridor building on a rectangular plan, with a modular steel structure) was built on it at the time, designed by Emil Leybold and Christian Seyfahrt.
The building at 70-72 Unter den Linden in Berlin, former headquarters of the Polish embassy - designed by Emil Leybold, Christian Seyfarth
photo: Jörg Zägel | wikimedia Commons © CC BY-SA 3.0
In time, however, the representative nature of the avenue in the center of the German capital required an equally representative edifice (the decision to replace the existing building with a new one was also reinforced by the use of asbestos in the standing office building). The first competition for the seat of the Polish embassy in Berlin was announced back in the 1990s, with the winning proposal from Marek Budzyński's studio, but the project never came to fruition. The next competition did not award first prize (second prize: Artur Jasinski & Partners and Atelier Loegler). Finally, in 2012, the proposal of the JEMS Architekci team (2nd prize: Wolski Architekci) was selected through a competition. Implementation was planned for 2016.
The jury, chaired by Jerzy Grochulski, appreciated the proposal of the Warsaw architects for:
an interesting proposal, appropriate to the nature of the object and the rank of the place, to integrate the embassy building into the existing context of the place [...] a proper solution to the program and functional problems, providing a perspective of flexibility and ease of use of the object [...] for good technical and technological solutions, taking into account the energy balance.
sketch of the embassy's facade
© JEMS Architekci
representative character
polish diplomatic post
On Unter den Linden Avenue , right next to the Brandenburg Gate, will stand the embassy headquarters, which will be the pride of Poland and Polish diplomacy, assured Jerzy Pomianowski, then Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the competition results were announced.
In their competition proposal, the architects from the JEMS studio opted for a timeless solution inspired by Polish modernism - a restrained form that complements the frontage of the representative avenue with a rhythmic elevation.
the building complements the frontage of a representative avenue with its rhythmic elevation
photo: Konrad Laskowski | © MSZ
We wanted the image of Poland in this place, expressed in the language of architecture, to represent Polish diplomacy with dignity, explains Marcin Sadowski, chief designer of the building and partner at JEMS Architekci. - This meant, in our opinion, shaping a building with features that clearly indicate its strong integration into Berlin' s urban fabric, but at the same time having its own strong identification.
three-dimensional facade
Polish Embassy in Berlin
Integrated into the frontage, however, the block is not boring - a balanced dynamics is added to the object by the three-dimensional facade, which, thanks to the introduction of additional layers, changes depending on the perspective adopted and introduces a play of light and shadow. The partial translucency of the tectonic façade also allows us to look a little into the interior of the diplomatic facility, which is not fully accessible every day - in the depths we can see the courtyard with flagpoles.
The play of light and shadow on the facade
© JEMS Architekci
The facade is integrally connected with the interior of the building. It is a harbinger of what awaits us inside. The relationship between the structure of the windows and the walls of the interior courtyards and the rhythm of the columns and stringers in the area of the representative hall and the first floor halls becomes a leitmotif, Sadowski adds.
The interior contrasts with the concrete columns and beams through warm wall and floor finishes, which are complemented by custom-designed furniture.
embassy courtyard
Photo: Konrad Laskowski | © MFA
As the architects emphasize in the project description - in this building Polishness is to be manifested in its sensitivity and appropriateness. Are these the feelings this "Polish landmark" will evoke in the numerous tourists from around the world who will pass it on their way to one of Berlin's most distinctive landmarks?
