Falkensee Citizens' Office
Conversion of a former post office into a citizens' office: from postbox to landmark
Description
In the centre of Falkensee the former post office was converted into the citizens’ office. Sensitive and formally effective interventions turned the building into a new focal point for residents. The combination of contemporary design language and the reuse of historic elements makes the building a landmark of identification.
The citizens’ office brings together registration, schools, public order and economic affairs. Visitors are welcomed personally at a central point and guided internally. Lines of sight “behind the scenes” and comprehensible layouts are an intentional architectural theme.
Project data
- Year
- 2009–2012
- Location
- 14612 Falkensee, Germany
- Category
- Existing buildings
- Client
- City of Falkensee
- Gross floor area
- 2,249 m² (all floors)
- Construction costs
- € 2,230,000 (cost groups 300 + 400)
- Services provided
- Architectural services under HOAI §33ff., work stages 1–9, general planner
- Project duration
- March 2009 to August 2012, occupancy August 2012
- Project number
- № 0920
In context
The refurbishment and conversion of the former Falkensee post office into the town’s citizens’ office is a characteristic example of how working with existing fabric in Brandenburg engages responsibly with historic substance while accommodating contemporary administrative functions. By bringing together residents’ registration, the school office, the public order office and the economic affairs office under one roof, the town of Falkensee has created a place of encounter that offers citizens short distances and transparent structures.
As an architectural office based in Falkensee, we approached the conversion of the existing building with the ambition of preserving the historic identity of the former post office while creating an open, welcoming atmosphere for administrative use. Sight lines into the working areas and clear wayfinding make a visit feel self-explanatory and confident.
The project stands as an example of our work in the Havelland region: a respectful approach to historic fabric, the integration of contemporary functions, and an architectural language that develops out of the place itself. We regularly take on comparable tasks (refurbishment of public buildings, energy modernisation, conversion within heritage contexts) in Falkensee, Spandau, Berlin-Charlottenburg and the wider Brandenburg region.
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