Underground Station Rotes Rathaus

The new central station and the government district are being connected to the underground train network by an extension of the line U5 from Alexanderplatz. Three new stations are being built, we are the designers for the city hall station, “Rotes Rathaus” ( City Hall Berlin Center), which opened Dec 2020.

In 2010, archaeological remains of the first Berlin City Hall from the Gothic period were excavated. In order to preserve them and integrate them into the design, another redesign was needed. The new design identity of the station is now created by a strong spatial concept, an expressive mushroom column structure and through the materiality of the walls. The structure is inspired by the gothic principle of load transfer. The walls are made of sanded and polished terrazzo panels, an innovative material application. The design communicates the idea of movement and dynamics of the underground light rail. Clarity and personal sense of security remain fully intact, brightness and wellbeing spring from the modern clarity.