Bötzow Brewery • David Chipperfield Architects

The site of the former Bötzow Brewery is situated within walking distance of Berlin’s Alexanderplatz and Friedrichshain public park. Since its initial opening in 1885, the Bötzow family attached great importance to the running of a modern brewery. This was reflected in the co-existence of the representative production yard together with a public beer garden, which became a popular destination for excursions. Following numerous extensions and conversions, the grounds were damaged in parts during World War II, and the entrepreneur’s villa and serving building were completely eradicated. The Bötzow ensemble was left extensively derelict for decades, before being listed as a protected heritage site in 1990.

Bötzow brewery around 1900,
© Julius Bötzow Brauerei Berlin 1864-1939, Verlag Hoppenstedt & Co., Berlin 1939

The design for the conversion and restoration of the Bötzow Brewery, in line with its listed status, began with a masterplan in 2013. The aim was to reintegrate the site into the urban fabric as a public destination, reviving its original urban concept of blending work with leisure, and public with private spaces.

The central focus of the renovation was to preserve and highlight the ensemble's identity. Special attention was given to its historical development and the distinctive features of Prussian industrial architecture. Traces of past usage have been carefully retained. Where possible, the existing building fabric was maintained, with non-functional elements being repaired rather than replaced. This approach not only made ecological sense – saving resources and reducing waste – but also brought economic advantages.

By 2021, seven existing buildings were refurbished and converted into office spaces in close collaboration with conservation authorities, carefully considering their future use. The historic vaulted cellars, which form the impressive underground foundations of the former brewery, now house fitness and wellness facilities as well as event spaces.

The masterplan for the site also encompasses four new buildings, which make reference in their placement to the former ensemble: a restaurant building in the beer garden, two buildings with co-working areas and a residential and office building at the entrance area facing Prenzlauer Allee. Where the garden restaurant once stood, the area – fenced off for decades – has now reopened to the city with a new, spacious beer garden, once again becoming an integral part of the urban fabric.

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