Federal Ministry of Defence Building Bendlerblock Berlin, German capital commercial property development photos
Federal Ministry of Defence Building in Berlin, Germany
22 January 2026
Architects: HENN Architekten
Location: Bendlerblock complex, Tiergarten district, Berlin, Germany
Images by HENN
Federal Ministry of Defence Building, Berlin City-West
In the competition for the redevelopment of the Berlin headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Defence, the design by HENN, in collaboration with SINAI Landscape Architects, received one of two first prizes. Both winning teams have been commissioned to further develop their designs.
All competition entries will be exhibited at the Ernst-Reuter-Haus in Berlin from January 22 to February 6, 2026. The exhibition will be open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The Bendlerblock is a listed complex of buildings situated in Berlin’s Tiergarten district and one of the most significant sites of Germany’s recent history. Once a place where military resistance against the Nazi regime emerged, it currently houses the Federal Ministry of Defence. This historic ensemble is going to be expanded using previously undeveloped portions of the site.
HENN’s design incorporates three new buildings alongside the imposing historic structures, which were built from 1911 onwards. The new additions – two administrative buildings and a canteen pavilion – are designed to be resource- and energy-efficient. The entire site will be transformed into a permeable green campus. Its design instills transparency as well as self-confidence, symbolizing the preservation of our democratic and liberal values.
The new buildings will be deliberately set back from the main building, which is situated in a prominent position on Landwehr Canal. Rather than closing off the street block, a gap between the two buildings gives the historic façade room to assert its character. At the same time, this arrangement opens an inward view from the public urban space.
At the heart of the newly created campus, two new administrative buildings frame the parade ground at their center. Their U-shaped layout creates spacious courtyards which, adorned with native trees, perennials, and grasses, offer tranquility and a place for people to meet. The buildings’ narrow wings bring the workplaces close to the façade, providing daylight, fresh air, and views of the green courtyards and the surrounding area. Photovoltaic systems installed on the green roofs generate sustainable electricity.
The open fourth side of the two buildings faces the parade ground. Between the wings of the buildings, a transparent layer spans across the space – a glazed structure of passageways that provides acoustic protection for the workplaces. At the same time, the green courtyards situated opposite each other create a sophisticated backdrop for ceremonial events. The parade ground is the traditional venue for the Grand Tattoo, the highest military honor of the Bundeswehr, as well as for the swearing-in of new soldiers to defend democracy. The parade ground as such will be redesigned using large natural stone slabs interspersed with shiny bronze joints. A new state visitor staircase connects the ground to the historic building.
The parade ground and buildings are lined with preserved and newly planted trees as well as green ribbons of hedges and flowering perennials. SINAI’s landscape architecture creates an intriguing contrast between the geometric architectural patterns and the organic nature of the surroundings. Footpaths and forecourts connect the buildings to each other and establish links to a grove at the rear of the site – a tranquil retreat where visitors can take a stroll. A low pavilion housing the canteen sits in its seemingly random natural surroundings.
The new buildings’ thoughtfully inserted geometries and their sandstone façades allow for a harmonious integration of old and new. Their base is closed towards the outside to elevate them above street level to ensure the required degree of security and discretion.
The Bendlerblock extension transforms the Federal Ministry of Defence site into a tranquil, prestigious campus that pays homage to the historic fabric while carrying democratic values into the future.
Federal Ministry of Defence Building in Berlin, Germany – Building Information
Architects: HENN Architekten – https://www.henn.com/en
Location: Berlin, Germany
Competition: 2025
Programm: Administration, canteen, fitness and sports area, parade ground, state visitor staircase
Landscape architecture: SINAI Landschaftsarchitekten
Client: Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (BBR)
User: German Federal Ministry of Defence
Competition: 2025 (one of two 1st prizes)
Typology: New build
Client: Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (BBR)
User: German Federal Ministry of Defence
Address: Stauffenbergstraße 13/14, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Program: Office, Canteen, Fitness and sports area, Parade ground, State visitor staircase
Sustainability:
– EGB 40 energy efficiency
standard
– Rooftop photovoltaic
systems generate electricity
– Rainwater harvesting: green
retention roofs, unsealed
drainage areas, storage and
use of rainwater
– Regional materials: natural
stone from Saxony (granite)
Sustainability certificate
BNB Gold (pursued)
Competition team
Partners in charge:
Stefan Sinning, Silke Beckmann, Fredrik Werner, Francesco Capuzzo, Elena, Englmann, Nelli Kraus, Maja Morosan
Landscape architecture: SINAI Landschaftsarchitekten
Consultants: Wetzel & von Seht (structural framework), b.i.g. gruppe management, gmbh (building services), Görtzen Solbrink & Partner (fire protection)
Images: HENN
Federal Ministry of Defence Building Berlin, Germany images / information received 220126 from HENN Architekten
Location: Bendlerblock buildings, Tiergarten district, Berlin, Germany.
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Comments / photos for the Federal Ministry of Defence Building Berlin design by HENN Architekten in the Bendlerblock complex, Tiergarten district, Germany, page welcome.
