Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Claas Dreppenstedt
Photo © Levin Monsigny Landschaftsarchitekten
Photo © Levin Monsigny Landschaftsarchitekten

Living at the Marthashof

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Location
Berlin, Germany
Year
2012

Permission to build this residential development in Berlin's popular Prenzlauer Berg district was only given on condition that the adjacent courtyard gardens be made accessible to the public. Marthashof has become an example of how public and private space can function to complement each other. People walking by see the garden’s more public side while its interior area has the intimate atmosphere of a private garden.
The complex’s buildings are arranged in a U-shape around the 5,000 m2-large courtyard. Private gardens are located at the rear of the residences. Terraces in the courtyard mark a natural transition between public and private areas. The public space has cosy, secluded areas underneath Wisteria-covered pergolas, smaller sunken gardens and rock gardens. There are also communal areas with seating and picnic tables underneath leafy arbours, perfect for long summer evenings.

The unobtrusive centre of the gardens is provided by a water table made from simple blocks of stone. Visitors are met by the refreshing sound of running water, which welcomes you to the very special atmosphere of the Marthashof as you enter from the street.

Paving has been selected to emphasise the Mediterranean atmosphere. The extravagant light-coloured pavers are enlivened by the vegetation growing in their joints.

Construction of the garden will soon be complete, and then only the flowers will be missing. Planting will be carried out in the autumn. The leitmotif of the garden will be different climbing plants such as wisteria, vetch, honeysuckle, clematis, and ivy dispersed along the façades, pergolas and trellises.

Client
Stofanel Investment GmbH, Berlin


Architect
Grüntuch Ernst Architekten, Berlin

Other Projects by Levin Monsigny Landschaftsarchitekten

FriedrichstadtPalast
Berlin, Germany
St. Mary's Church at Alexanderplatz
Berlin, Germany
Museum for Art and Culture
Münster, Germany
Open Space TV Tower, Alexanderplatz, St. Mary's Church
Berlin, Germany
Richard-Wagner-Museum in the Wahnfried House
Bayreuth, Germany