Office of the Federal President
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Design of the Entrance, Guard House and Security Control, X-ray Scanning, Delivery and Offices

Explanation of Design

The Competition is based on three premises:
1. The competition design develops the historical floor plan of Bellevue Palace on the geometric basis, and thus creates clear courtyard sequences: in addition to the actual courtyard in front of the palace, two further courtyards are defined; the middle for setting up the formations and the forecourt facing the public, through which daily visitors, employees and deliveries are received (see schematic diagrams)

2. With this simple structure, a direct and functional response to the security and ceremonial requirements of the spatial program is proposed.

3. On the one hand, the structural intervention is kept as low as possible so that the tree population and the park landscape as a whole are largely left untouched, on the other hand, the proportions and dimensions of the new building are integrated with the historical building.

Individual aspects of the competition design
1. Above-ground distribution of uses:
The above-ground parts of the building contain the uses that require natural light. The offices and common rooms of the Federal Police are housed in the three-story component according to the attached diagram. The visitor security control area begins in the low extension that replaces the "Neue Wache". The Alte Wache is being converted into a single space over its entire height and width, on the one hand to accommodate the body scan devices and baggage control systems, and on the other hand, despite the technology, to give the control process a more dignified setting thanks to the historical building and the occasion.

2. Subterranean distribution of uses:
Most of the space is arranged in the basement: security controls for goods and mail, most of the facilities and changing areas required by the police and staff, storage areas and a few break rooms. Green courtyards are connected to the green spaces at ground level and provide the surrounding rooms with daylight; the green atria are in the security area. The media and supply corridor connects the administration building with Bellevue Palace.

3. Dismantling of the "Neue Wache":
Due to the size of the new basement and the accommodation of the new room program on the ground floor level, the subsequent use of the "Neue Wache" is unfortunately not possible.

4. Access and security:
Two separate entrances are proposed for the development. This means that the necessary control and security requirements can be met without causing bottlenecks. A separate delivery of goods by trucks with their own covered area enables easy loading and unloading with an initial inspection of the incoming goods. The goods are distributed to the respective departments of the BPA via a vertical connection to the basement, where the scanners and other control devices are located. The parking garage in the basement of the administration building is accessed via a separate street entrance. Only a slight shift is necessary for the new ramp arrangement so that the current connection to the building does not have to be changed.

5. Structure:
The right-angled arrangement of the new components not only turns towards the newly defined courtyards, but also creates a representative, bridge-like gateway (three-story structure in the middle of the new building) and a single-story roofed delivery that creates a transition to the pergolas in the garden. The formality of the symmetrical gate creates a point of reference for the two asymmetrical wings. In terms of its dimensions and proportions, the gate-like structure corresponds to a large house and thus creates a discreet independence in the context of the overall area.

6. Choice of materials:
The facade of the new building will be clad with relatively thick, vertically corrugated aluminum panels. These panels come from former, recycled truck floor coverings. They are arranged according to the drawing shown on the plans (see joint picture), which, in addition to the optimal dimensional use of the recycling process, enables easy handling during construction. The closed parts of the facade clad in this way create a certain depth and rhythm that parallels the numerous surrounding trees and their furrowed bark. Seen from a distance, the panels together form a matt monolith. The rest of the facade is made of high security glass. The aluminum plates are flat in the parapet area. The choice of material and its detailing seek a relationship to the landscape. The matt, vertically corrugated material does not want to create a direct echo of the existing vegetation, but only a reflection of the shadows.

7. Landscape concept:
The extensive subterranean integration of the new building into the magnificent existing system requires special care in order to avoid substantial damage to the current balance of the existing vegetation. All protected trees are preserved. Only one of the half-protected trees will be replanted at the new entrance area.

In order to give the existing sidewalks a special continuity, cobblestones of various sizes and open joints are laid; the latter also serves to keep the degree of sealing of this area as low as possible. Paved sidewalks for pedestrians will be laid within the traffic areas to ensure the necessary accessibility, and near the green areas, larger green strips will articulate the transition between new buildings and greenery and ensure the permeability of the soil next to the existing trees. The new building will have a low-maintenance green roof.