Sustainability as a guiding principle: the Anna Lindh Haus sets new standards in Berlin

The Anna Lindh Haus in Berlin’s Europacity quarter is more than just an office building; it is a symbol of a sustainable future for the construction and real estate industry. The ambitious CA Immo project combines state-of-the-art architecture, innovative construction methods and a consistently sustainable concept that sets new standards. BuroHappold, represented by Thomas Kraubitz, Head of Sustainability Europe, is playing a decisive role in this project. With the introduction of the ‘Environmental Guardian’, a key position that has been created for the first time, sustainability is not only planned, but actively lived.q

From vision to reality: holistic sustainability as a core idea
The sustainability goals of the Anna Lindh Haus were exceptionally ambitious even in the early planning phase. ‘From the outset, we focused on the operational and construction CO₂ emissions,’ explains Thomas Kraubitz. The aim is to reduce the operational CO₂ emissions to just 20 kg per square metre per year – a figure that is well below market standards. This operational emissions target is achieved at the Anna Lindh Haus through an electrical operating concept.

The Anna Lindh Haus is fully electrified, with power supplied exclusively from renewable sources. ‘No combustion, no fossil fuels – that was our guiding principle,’ emphasises Kraubitz. This consistent approach is reflected in the building’s equipment: a photovoltaic system on the roof and highly efficient heat pumps further optimise the energy supply, thus complementing the guiding principle.

Kraubitz adds: ‘The grey emissions, i.e. the CO₂ emissions caused by materials, transport and construction processes, are often neglected. However, we integrated them into the planning from the very beginning and developed measures to significantly reduce them.’

The Environmental Guardian: a guardian angel for sustainability
One of the most remarkable innovations in the development process of the Anna Lindh Haus is the introduction of the Environmental Guardian. This role, created for the first time by Buro Happold in collaboration with CA Immo, acts as an overarching authority to monitor and enforce all of the project’s sustainability targets. ‘The Environmental Guardian is like a protective shield for the emissions targets,’ explains Kraubitz.

The Environmental Guardian’s responsibilities involve much more than just advice:

• Planning support: From floor plan design to facade selection, every decision was checked for its CO₂ emissions.
• Interdisciplinary moderation: The Guardian brings together specialist planners, architects and engineers to develop innovative solutions that go beyond traditional ways of thinking.
• Sustainability controlling: Similar to a financial controller, the Environmental Guardian monitors the ‘CO₂ currency’ and assesses the impact of all decisions on the climate targets.

‘Sustainability cannot be solved from within a single discipline. Our task is to bring the various specialist departments together, to break down the silos, in order to develop holistic solutions,’ says Kraubitz.

Sustainability in detail: 
The sustainability concept of the Anna Lindh Haus is based on a variety of innovative measures:

1. Resource-efficient construction: the wood-concrete hybrid construction reduces material consumption and minimises grey emissions.
2. Energy-efficient building envelope: The compact design and highly insulating facade elements significantly reduce energy requirements.
3. Low-temperature heating and cooling systems: These systems increase efficiency and ensure a pleasant indoor climate.
4. Renewable energy on site: in addition to the photovoltaic system, a central heat pump technology ensures a climate-friendly energy supply.
5. Integration of green electricity: in addition to our own production, only certified green electricity is purchased to ensure CO₂ neutrality in operation.

An additional challenge was the building’s life cycle assessment. Kraubitz emphasises: ‘From the outset, we not only considered the construction, but also the entire life cycle of the building. This includes issues such as the dismantlability of the supporting structure, but also the longevity and recyclability of the materials used in the interior.’

EU taxonomy: a pioneer in sustainable construction
The Anna Lindh Haus meets all the requirements of the EU taxonomy and sets new standards in the real estate industry. The consideration of the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ (DNSH) principles ensures that the building is not only low in emissions, but also takes into account other environmental aspects such as water consumption, climate risks and the conservation of resources.

‘The EU taxonomy is a milestone for the industry. With the Anna Lindh Haus, we are showing how these requirements can be consistently implemented,’ says Kraubitz. The building’s comprehensive taxonomy compliance makes it particularly attractive for companies that want to implement their own sustainability goals.

The big unknown when it comes to CO2
‘The big unknown when it comes to CO₂ is the user,’ explains Kraubitz. The behaviour of future users is of central importance for sustainable operation. “The earlier a user is known, the better,” Kraubitz continues. To be prepared for this, Buro Happold is developing and evaluating various user scenarios in advance. After all, ‘No matter how sustainable a building is, if the people who use it don’t go along with it, it loses its impact.’

This important approach to the sustainable operation of the Anna Lindh Haus is taken up by the intuitive operation of the technologies in the building and close cooperation with future tenants.

A building for people and the environment
This user-oriented approach is also reflected in the design of the building: the flexible office spaces allow for all common working concepts, while communal areas such as a two-storey lobby, a green atrium and spacious roof terraces offer a high quality of stay.

A flagship project for the future
The Anna Lindh Haus is more than just a building: it is a statement about the future of sustainable construction. With partners such as BuroHappold and the role of the environmental guardian, CA Immo is demonstrating that ambitious climate targets are not only achievable but also make economic sense.

The building offers companies a unique opportunity to become part of a sustainable success story in a location that is as attractive as it is future-proof.