Berliner Zimmer

Found in Berlin’s characteristic multi-story residential buildings, Berliner Zimmer—courtyard-facing corner rooms located between the front and side wings—have always offered both constraints and opportunities. They are dark, hard to heat, and have no clearly defined function. They are rooms that invite creative approaches to the space, rooms that are both loved and hated—but that have, until now, been little-researched. In this book, Jan Herres pioneers this research. He shows how the Berliner Zimmer first came into being in the eighteenth century, and why it continues to be a feature of residential construction in Berlin today. The account of the room’s position in architectural history is supplemented with case studies and images showcasing its contemporary uses and potential for interior design. Bringing together floor plans, measurements, and the ways residents use and live in these rooms, Das Berliner Zimmer. Geschichte, Typologie, Nutzungsaneignung represents both the first anthology of Berliner Zimmer and a case for flexible residential architecture that can be adapted to future needs and uses.