The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport has located its headquarters in a historic old building and an extension of roughly equal proportions. The old part of the Ministry's future home was built between 1875 and 1878 to a design by the architect Georg Tiede and originally housed the State Geological Institute and Mining Academy. The building was extended several times in subsequent years. In the GDR, it was home to the Geology Ministry. The last users moved out in 1996, just before renovation work on the old building started.

The listed old building, the neighbouring Natural History Museum and the Agricultural College are considered as forming a single ensemble of buildings for conservation purposes.

Civil works

Renovation work

The renovation work on the old building aimed to conserve the historically and architecturally very valuable building fabric, to preserve the character of the building for future generations and to restore the fabric of the building where it had been destroyed.

Alterations were to be clearly identifiable as new elements. This applied not only to the external appearance, but also to the floor plan and internal architecture. All subsequent fitments and the alterations essential for the building's new role were to be clearly distinguishable as new elements.

The character of the building stems primarily from when it housed the State Geological Institute and Prussian Mining Academy. Imposing design and fittings were part of the building concept from the outset: generous proportions, clear floor plans, a large glass-roofed atrium with two walkways and elegant staircases characterise the building.

Subsequent conversions

Subsequent conversions of the interior changed the original condition greatly. Cornices and decorative mouldings were simplified and the original generously proportioned rooms were lost when the building was fitted out to accommodate the GDR's Geology Ministry: large rooms were sub-divided into single rooms and the room heights were reduced by inserting suspended ceilings. The wide arcades running around the glass-roofed atrium were bricked up to gain more space. Deprived of its exhibition functions, the glass-roofed atrium was used as a store for the collections.

One of the first renovation measures taken was to open up these arcades and to expose the stone columns which had been bricked in. Thanks to this work, the space of the glass-roofed atrium can today be appreciated once again. Even the atrium roof's badly corroded iron frame has now been restored to its original condition. And exposing the impressive staircase restored its basic proportions too. The old building, with its appealing and imposing design and architecture, contains the offices of the Minister, the State Secretaries and their immediate support staff.

Extensions of the old building

Following a competition to find the best design, two six-storey extensions, linked by a section of building that is set back, have been constructed to architect Max Dudler's winning designs.

Both extensions, the first of which was occupied in 1999, correspond in scale and type to the imposing old building next door. The ground floor is also 1.8 metres above ground level and has the same floor height as the old building.

The courtyard in the first extension was covered with a grid-like glass roof installed at first-floor level, with three conference rooms underneath. Above these rooms, the roof areas, with their water, stone and plant features, help create a variety of form.

The courtyard of the second extension has also been partially provided with greenery, as has the roof. The facades of the new buildings are faced with large natural stone slabs. The facades of the inner courtyards are fully glazed.

The first new building connects directly to the old building. There are stairwells and a foyer with lifts at the interface. The second extension is connected via a slightly set back connecting structure. All crossing points are free of steps and suitable for disabled people. A separate entrance to the new buildings is located on Schwarzer Weg.

Facts and Figures

Location

Invalidenstraße 44

Contracting authority

Federal Republic of Germany,
represented by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport

Execution

Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning

Design

Old building
Prime designers - Prof. Gerber, Max Dudler

Extension I
Prime designer - Max Dudler

Extension II

Draft design and planning application:
Max Dudler, Berlin

Detailed design and site supervision:
Schnittger and Plesse, consulting architects

Structural design:
Bendel, Bradke, Lang GmbH

Building services plant:
IG Scholze, consulting engineers

Project supervision

Old building/extension I
IRW, AG

Extension II
Drees and Sommer, consultants

Conservationist aspects

Alexandra Restaurierungen, Berlin

Usable floor space

20,364 square metres

Posts

800

Project costs

164 million euros

Important dates

Old building
Start of building work: July 1996
Completion: December 2000

Extension I
Start of building work: December 1997
Completion: November 1999

Extension II
Start of building work: March 2003
Completion: mid 2005