Friedenauer Höhe, Berlin

Urban Design Concept and Architecture
The master plan by Eike Becker_Architekten offers a modern interpretation of the "Berlin Mix". The district is characterized by an open-block perimeter development enclosing landscaped courtyards, creating high quality of life within a dense urban environment. At the heart of the development is a public park that connects the new residential buildings with the existing neighborhood. The architecture combines functional housing requirements with a clear, timeless aesthetic. Behind the facades lies a significant structural innovation: under the management of developers BPD and OFB, along with general contractor Kondor Wessels, the building itself has become an active carbon sink.

Urban Mining and CO2 Mineralization
The construction process utilizes innovative technology from partner neustark. This adds a crucial stage to the conventional recycling process: CO2 from industrial sources is injected into the pores of local recycled concrete aggregate derived from demolition waste. Through a chemical reaction, the gas is permanently converted into the stable mineral limestone. This enriched aggregate is then used as a high-quality component for the new concrete at Friedenauer Höhe. Consequently, demolition waste is not only reused in the sense of "urban mining" but also serves as a medium to permanently remove emissions from the atmosphere and bind them within the concrete.

Within the scientifically monitored CORE project, it is documented that the combination of optimized cement formulations and CO2-enriched recycled aggregate can reduce the carbon footprint of structural components by up to 50%. Thus, Friedenauer Höhe serves as large-scale proof of the industrial feasibility of mineralization technology under real construction site conditions.

© Text: ZAB | Sources: neustark, ifeu, Eike Becker_Architekten