What will global cities look like in the future? How can sustainability and economic development be balanced? How can public areas be integrated with office spaces and retail outlets? How can we achieve a balance of open space and density?

These questions are being discussed by urban planners, developers and architects all over the world. Bikini Berlin, which recently opened in the German capital, is one example of an urban oasis and a unique combination of shopping, working, entertaining, recreation, and hospitality spaces.

Located in Berlin’s old centre in the city’s west end, Bikini Berlin is an innovative concept for urban development. Buildings include the Bikinihaus opposite the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Grosse Hochhaus (great skyscraper) at Hardenberg Platz, the cinema Zoo Palast, and the small high-rise Kleine Hochhaus which features a hotel and a car park. The complex was purchased by Munich-based developer Bayerische Hausbau, who carried out the revitalisation of the complex between 2010 and 2014.

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Bikini Berlin consists of the rehabilitation of heritage-listed building ensembles from 1957, the historic Zoobogen, and the renaissance of a once dynamic location. The heart of the group of buildings is the historic, 200-metre Bikinihaus, which was given its name in the 1950s. An open-sided storey framed by columns on the second floor once separated the building into upper and lower areas. It reminded locals of the then-daring new swimwear fashion, the bikini.

Today, the lower three floors are home to retails shops, cafés and restaurants. Exclusive office spaces for collaborative working are above those levels.

One of the highlights of Bikini Berlin is the 7,000 square metre freely accessible landscaped roof terrace, from which visitors can enjoy a unique view of the Berlin Zoo and its wildlife. The terrace invites shoppers to an urban oasis for relaxation.

The Bikini Berlin Pool is a large marketplace with stunning views to the monkey enclosure of the zoo. This area is home to a total of 19 spaces for short-term tenants which are made of flexible modular systems made from wood. The spaces are available in five sizes between 19 and 39 square metres and have a minimalistic design. The aim is to encourage the creativity of the tenants to present and showcase their products. The complex also includes a flexible event area for a wide range of events and exhibitions.

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Supernova, part of the concept mall, is a modern marketplace for national and international labels of the future. In cooperation with sponsors from the fashion, design and digital lifestyle industries Supernova aims to be a hotspot for innovative design, new ideas and products and creative marketing, and offers sensational product presentations, changing pop-up shops and special editions by renowned brand manufacturers. The atmosphere of this space is constantly changing so that returning visitors can experience something new every time they visit.

The overarching goal of the project is to create an urban meeting place and a communication hub for the public.