commercial to residential

Meier-Scupin & Petzet architects converted a former post-office control centre into a large scale loft. The building is located on the Alramstraße in Munich. The lively history of the building is reflected in its dynamic front. Before the war, telephone operators manually connected phone calls there. Large switchboards and distribution boxes in the adjoining building attested the function of the two buildings. But in the 1990s they were decommissioned because the revolution in telecommunications made these large scale facilities superfluous.
MSP completely remodelled the ensemble in three years. The radical and extravagant reconstruction goes beyond any other type of conversion and the buildings appear to be completely new. The only reminder of the former telecom centre are the high ceilings, reaching up to 3.5 meters. The architects removed two floors, entirely replacing them with new elements. There is no sign of industrial flooring, just parquet that gives the rooms a luxurious appearance. A penthouse apartment with veranda crowns the building and draws attention to the street-side facade.
The underground shelter, a remnant from the war, now houses the washing facilities for the whole building. And extensive underground parking ensures ample possibilities for residents to park their cars. Located in the lush, green courtyard the entrance to the garage contradicts its actual purpose. In the rear building the architects even changed the direction of the structural elements in order to create continuous housing units of 80 up to 250 square metres. Each loft consists of two rooms, making future partitioning of the lofts possible. French balconies open the apartment to the inner court of the block.
The buildings realize light and modern living in a former working class neighbourhood.
Refitting and conversion of unused buildings remain a rarity in Munich, despite half a million square meters of empty office space. Perhaps the two dozen precious lofts created on the Alramstraße will stimulate the investors market to reconsider their focus.