PASS-STÜCKE

Pass-Stücke (lit. “fitting pieces”) represent a culture of preservation and repair, of skilled craftsmanship, and of the sensitive conversion of historic fabric. Whether it’s Schloss Charlottenburg (Charlottenburg Palace) in Berlin, the Deichtorhallen cultural complex in Hamburg, or the historic city hall in Goslar, Krekeler Architekten see every project as a unique space with its own history, atmosphere, and aesthetic—and its own requirements and possibilities. The starting point for their designs is a keen sense of context that allows the reimagining and sensitive reuse of historic architecture. Using thirty projects spanning a period of thirty years and commentary from members of the firm, this volume reveals the internationally active architecture office’s unique approach.

• Offers a new perspective on both famous monuments and new discoveries
• Provides thirty examples of best practice for the reuse of existing buildings—from Brandenburg to Bucharest
• Includes an afterword by the architecture critic Jürgen Tietz

Dr Jens Birnbaum studied architecture at Technische Universität Berlin, where he gained his doctorate in 2006. Following this, he worked for Purcell in London and Brenne Architekten in Berlin before joining Krekeler Architekten Generalplaner as a project leader. He became an associate partner of the firm in 2013, and a partner per procurationem in 2023.

Tina Gebler studied art history and French philology at the Freie Universität Berlin and the Charles University in Prague. She completed her Master’s degree in 2017. After working in the fields of journalism and curatorship, she joined Krekeler Architekten Generalplaner as an art historian and buildings researcher in 2018.

Dr Achim Krekeler studied architecture at Leibniz Universität Hannover. From 1984 to 1993, he worked as a buildings researcher and excavations architect in Egypt and Syria. He gained his doctorate in 1998. In 1994, he founded the architecture office Krekeler Architekten Generalplaner in Brandenburg an den Havel, later opening branches in Berlin and Braunschweig. He is a member of the Association of German Architects (BDA) and the national German monument protection committee DNK, as well as a corresponding member of the German Archeological Institute (DAI).