A cube of glass and steel stands before you. This is Alea 101. Its sharp edges cut against the Berlin sky. But this modern marvel hides a rich history.
Alea 101 isn’t just a building. It’s a layered story etched into the very ground it stands on. In 1911 Germany’s first C&A department store opened here. Imagine the bustle the crowds the fashions. That original building stood until 1949. Then the East German government took over.
The site later housed a clothing store run by the state. Then a restaurant called Haus Bukarest opened on the ground floor. This lasted until 1967. It was torn down to make way for a planned supermarket. The building was eventually demolished in 1974. The land remained empty. Then came the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Brenninkmeijer family the owners of C&A regained their property. They decided to build something new. Something that honored the past while embracing the future. Alea 101 is the result. A design competition was held. Sauerbruch Hutton’s design was chosen. Construction began in 2012.
Alea 101 is more than just retail space. It’s a testament to efficient design. It boasts a geothermal system using a massive 4000 square meter slit wall. This supplies heating and cooling to the apartments and offices. Solar thermal panels provide hot water. The building’s design earned it a Platinum DGNB certificate for sustainability.
The name Alea 101 is clever. Alea is Latin for dice. A nod to the cube-like shape. The 101 represents the 101 years between the first C&A store and the start of Alea 101’s construction. Today shops restaurants offices and apartments fill this modern marvel. Each floor tells a story. Each window offers a view of Berlin’s vibrant heart. Alea 101. A building that stands as a symbol of change resilience and smart design.