Berlin's Oberschöneweide district is set to undergo a dramatic transformation with the ambitious Funkytown project, a massive urban development that will bring together eight renowned architectural firms to create a new campus by 2029. The project, developed by Berlin-based Trockland, aims to demonstrate how architectural diversity can redefine urban spaces while paying homage to the area's rich radio and broadcasting heritage.
The impressive lineup of architectural talent reads like a who's who of Berlin's design scene, featuring Graft Architects, Grüntuch Ernst Architects, Tchoban Voss Architects, Julian Breinersdorfer, Thomas Hillig Architects, LAVA, LXSY, and several others. These distinguished firms have been tasked with creating one of the most ambitious cultural and commercial projects in southeastern Berlin, transforming a site that has remained largely undeveloped for decades.
Located between Rummelsburger Landstraße and the current Funkhaus Berlin, the project site currently houses only a deteriorating East German prefab building from the 1960s, formerly known as the headquarters of the GDR youth radio station DT64. The development plan includes renovating this existing structure while adding eight new buildings on the previously undeveloped land between BLOCK E and Rummelsburger Landstraße.
These new structures, called "STATIONS," are scheduled for completion by the end of 2029 and will encompass approximately 38,500 square meters of usable space. The master planning for the entire urban development is being handled by KSP Engel Berlin, which is also designing the central building. Each of the eight architectural firms will develop their own unique STATION, creating individual structures that stand alone while contributing to a cohesive urban ensemble.
STATION A, designed by Graft Architects, marks the campus entrance along Rummelsburger Landstraße. The design features a dynamic building corner with projections and recesses that emphasize the transition to urban space. Large-format windows direct views in multiple directions toward the Spree River, the city, and the historic Funkhaus. The facade combines transparent, semi-transparent, and solid elements, with white lacquered aluminum slats reflecting the verticality of the Funkhaus in a contemporary architectural language.
Grüntuch Ernst Architects have created STATION B with a distinctive double facade layer. A perforated aluminum layer sits in front of the main window facade, with hole patterns that visually represent the audio line from James Brown's "Funky Drummer." This innovative approach translates music into visual patterns, with transparency varying based on perspective to create an interplay between openness and privacy suitable for hospitality sector needs.
STATION C, designed by Julian Breinersdorfer Architects, references the opposing BLOCK E building while avoiding direct copying of GDR architecture. Instead, it translates this historical style into a softer, contemporary design language. The facade consists of prefabricated concrete elements with round openings, giving the building what the firm calls a "retrofuturistic" character. Mirrored glass in areas requiring greater privacy creates reflective effects that integrate the surrounding environment into the facade.
KSP Engel's STATION D takes a clear, monolithic approach with vertical, folded facade elements creating a sculptural surface that changes with varying light conditions. The ceramic coating enhances this effect while giving the facade a sophisticated appearance. Despite its confident presence within the ensemble, the building is designed to function as part of a larger urban order.
LXSY Architecture's STATION E will serve as an important accent piece at the district square. The building features a distinctive wavy metal shell surrounding the upper floors, while the base will be constructed from reclaimed brick, referencing the area's industrial building traditions. This combination of reused materials and new metal skin exemplifies the project's commitment to making sustainability visually apparent, with the ground floor opening widely to public spaces.
STATION F, developed by LAVA, represents a hybrid wood construction based on parametric design processes that respond to lighting conditions and energy requirements. The emerald green facade opens to the south while providing protection against overheating. Green facade areas will improve the microclimate, while interior offset facade zones create niches and common spaces for occupants.
Tchoban Voss Architects have chosen weathering steel (Corten steel) as the defining material for STATION G. This material develops a rust-red patina that gives the building a warm yet robust appearance. Generous window surfaces, balconies, and offset volumes create sculptural effects while ensuring good natural lighting for work spaces, integrating into Funkytown's planned urban diversity while emphasizing its industrial character.
STATION H by Thomas Hillig Architects forms both the spatial and architectural conclusion of the new building series. Upon completion, this structure will border an allotment garden and responds to this context with pergolas and a green, wood-clad facade. A gracefully elevated attic will mark the urban endpoint of Funkytown, with monochrome green connecting architecture and natural space while indicating the transition from dense development to open landscape.
Each STATION in the new Funkytown campus will carry its own architectural signature while reflecting different design approaches, from musical references to circular building concepts. Together, these diverse structures aim to create an ensemble that will set both functional and urban planning accents while reinterpreting the Oberschöneweide location in all its complexity. The transformation of this formerly vacant site promises to become one of the most elaborate and closely watched construction projects in southeastern Berlin, fundamentally changing the urban space along Rummelsburger Landstraße.
