Warschauer Tor is a figural and cultural gate to Berlin. In its greater context, the building is an inviting threshold between the active and newly redeveloped Mitte (downtown) and the neglected and less developed eastern districts. The name references its eastern location within the city, suggesting that the path through the gate may lead to Warschau (Warsaw). Hallways are located on every other floor and hotel rooms span one to two stories, allowing for transparency through the building and views in both directions from within.
Warschauer Tor offers its guests and visitors the opportunity to ground themselves in the city by engaging in positive social interaction. A diverse arrangement of hotel rooms accommodates a multitude of guests. Room types vary based on the number of guests in a unit and their particular space requirements and are intermixed throughout the building. Newcomers and community members alike utilize common spaces (bar, lounge, restaurant, computer lab, seminar rooms) in the “sky lobby” which spans the four towers. Rooms are available on a weekly basis in order to attract migrants rather than visitors, and the maisonette room section foreshadows a more permanent residence.
"Warschauer Tor, Berlin" © 2009 Benjamin Busch. All rights reserved.
