Local studio Batek Architekten used stacked cubes to design RHE42, a four-storey Berlin townhouse that looks to repurpose unused space in the city.
Located in Mitte, a borough in central Berlin, RHE42 is a 190 square-metre design that contains two apartments and was built against a large fire wall within a typical Berlin courtyard.
Berlin is suffering a housing shortage, and the building was created as one solution in which unused space can be used to build homes and fill remaining spaces in the centre of the city.
"Due to the severe housing shortage in Berlin, densification is a big issue," Batek Architekten founder Patrick Batek told Dezeen. "You can either add on top of houses or use the remaining space in an inner courtyard like here. To build in a courtyard with very limited access was a big challenge." Top: RHE42 by Batek Architekten. Above: the home has a tiered design
The studio used three stacked cubes to create the form of the building, with each box smaller than the previous to give the design a tapered effect.
Terraces were formed on each level by using offset space around the staggered and stepped cubes.
Grey render adds a textural element to the facade
The exterior is covered with a grey render that complements pale hues of the neighbouring buildings and adds a subtle texture to the facade.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are framed by metal trim and sit flush against the exterior walls, while wooden doors provide a warm contrast against the pale...