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Futurium Berlin

Underfloor systems from OBO Bettermann in Haus der Zukunft (House of the Future) in Berlin

Where were OBO products installed?

Location: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Berlin
Customer: BAM Deutschland AG
Architect: Christoph Richter and Jan Musikowski; landscape architects JUCA
Size of the building: 14,000 square metres
Installed OBO product units: Cable Routing Systems, Underfloor systems

Project description

Like a cloud between the turbulent dealings of the big city, the facade reflects the sky and the building is embedded in the heart of the government district in Berlin. The "House of the Future" is now located between the Charité Hospital and the Office of the Federal Chancellor, in the centre of the government district. Underfloor systems from OBO Bettermann were installed, ensuring a flexible power supply.

The three-storey Futurium will be open to young and old from the spring of 2019, presenting the world of tomorrow. Downstairs, the so-called "Cave" contains the laboratory. This is where the future can be seen today. Above it, at the heart of the building is the 600 square-meter event level. This is where events are held in an attractive setting, discussions centring on scientific, political and civil society topics will receive international attention and represent the capital. The next level features the "Cloud" where various exhibitions are held on 3,200 square metres.

Everything is interconnected ‒ people, technology and nature, that is the message that the 14,000 square metres of the building wishes to impart. It is intended to give people a taste of life in the future and to experience research and innovation.

General building information

Set into the polished terrazzo floors, heavy-duty floor sockets from OBO Bettermann with floor covering openings keep the floor surface practically intact. The unobtrusive outlets are equipped with sockets and data boxes that can be used for a large number of exhibitors and their mobile technology. The OBO floor sockets are fed by the modern solar system on the roof of the Futurium.

Customer: BAM Deutschland AG is a private partner of the German Institute for Federal Real Estate that implemented the project as the property and building owner commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
Planning: The Futurium was designed by the Berlin-based architects duo of Christoph Richter and Jan Musikowski in co-operation with the landscape architects JUCA.
OBO systems: underfloor and cable routing systems

Find out more about the underfloor systems from OBO.

Why did the customer choose OBO products?

This meant that the decision in favour of OBO's underfloor systems was a clear one. This was due, on the one hand, to the successful products, and on the other, to the fact that the focus was not only on functionality as OBO offers very aesthetic and unobtrusive solutions.

Were special solutions used?

For the bottom and top floor a mastic asphalt terrazzo floor was laid, and on the middle floor a layer of cement-bound screed. In all areas, special solutions from OBO were used.

For the architects, Christoph Richter and Jan Musikowski, it was not only the reliable function of the OBO Bettermann solutions that were the convincing factor, but also the perfect harmony with the different terrazzo floors.

What type of challenges occurred during construction?

During the overall planning, flexibility was of key importance. In particular in the central area, the event level, different scenarios were conceived. Practically every event here requires mobile technology. The same is true for the exhibition area on the top floor. Changing exhibitions require flexible power supplies, in this case via the floor.