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With the handover of the building permit for the so-called "Upside-Down Chest of Drawers", an important step has been taken today for one of the most famous buildings in Bremen. After many years of stagnation, there is now a clear perspective for the listed water tower on the Stadtwerder.
"The building permit is one of the first in Bremen to apply the new, simplified approval options after the amendment of the Building Code. On this basis, the building authority was able to grant exemptions from the development plan. This made it possible to issue the permit for the conversion this year - without a lengthy amendment procedure," explains Senator for Construction, Mobility and Urban Development, Özlem Ünsal, at the handover of the building permit.
28 apartments are planned in the water tower itself. The project will be supplemented by space on the ground floor and basement, some of which will be used by the public (details are still being coordinated), as well as by office space in the neighbouring boiler house and gastronomic use in the outdoor area, in the so-called Brunnenhaus. This mixture creates the basis for maintaining the building in the long term and at the same time filling it with new life.
The building permit was granted in just four months, a good example of all-round coordinated planning and the will of all stakeholders involved for this demanding construction project.
"This project shows that patience, conviction and the will to preserve extraordinary buildings pay off. The Upside-Down Chest of Drawers is not just any building – it is part of Bremen's identity. From the very beginning, our aim was to develop a use that is economically viable and at the same time does justice to the monument. The building permit is a decisive milestone in this regard," emphasizes Amer Sandawi, project developer and representative of the owner of the upside-down chest of drawers. "Without the common will and the extremely cooperative partnership of all those involved, we would not have come to this result. For this, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those involved in the project."
This was preceded by a two-phase building construction competition, which was decided last year. The winner was the Bremen-based office WESTPHAL ARCHITEKTEN BDA. The nationwide competition was decisive in finding a solution that does justice to the monument and at the same time enables a sustainable use. "We approached the task with great respect for the history of the water tower," explains architect Jost Westphal. "Our goal was to preserve the characteristic silhouette and industrial charm while creating spaces that meet today's living and working demands. The design is to be seen as a cautious further development." The apartment floor plans are between 50 and 250 sqm.
In addition to Senator Özlem Ünsal, Prof. Dr. Iris Reuther, Senate Building Director, Amer Sandawi and Wolfgang Weber as representatives of the owner, architect Jost Westphal and Jens Lütjen, Managing Partner of the Robert C. Spies Group, took part in today's press conference.
"The upside-down chest of drawers is one of those projects that makes urban development tangible in the best sense of the word," says Jens Lütjen, managing partner of the Robert C. Spies Group, which is advising on this unique real estate project and is also mandated for marketing. "This is where the monument, location and idea of use meet - and create an offer that can radiate far beyond Bremen. We are convinced that this project is a strong signal for the development of Bremen and Stadtwerder."
"I am very pleased that it has been possible to get a viable programme for a new residential address off the ground using all possible instruments of planning law and, above all, as a result of a competition procedure for the cityscape-defining building and top-class monument. This is the best of Bremen's building culture!" says Prof. Dr. Iris Reuther, Senate Building Director of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.
The "Upside-Down Chest of Drawers" stands for a long history, but also for the ability to break new ground. Today's result shows that if the city, monument preservation, owner and planning work together, even complex and long-stalled projects can be implemented. A piece of Bremen's city history will be preserved – and will have a new future.
