Photo: Hufton & Crow
ANOHA – The Children’s World of the Jewish Museum Berlin
Berlin, Germany
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Design Principal
Alan Maskin
Inspired by the pioneering vision of Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, which underscores the importance of diversity, collaboration and second chances, ANOHA—The Children’s World of the Jewish Museum Berlin seeks to give the museum’s youngest guests a sense of hope and possibility. Located within an existing former flower market hall, the heart of ANOHA is a circular wooden ark, standing almost 23 feet (7 meters) tall with a 92-foot (28-meter) base diameter. The curvilinear ark complements the curved ribs of the Brutalist light scoops overhead, while the shift in materiality from concrete to wood offers a softening counterpoint to the existing space.
More than 150 sculptural animals populate ANOHA’s ark, each created from found objects by a team of 18 German artists. This approach encourages children to consider the importance of recycling and adaptive re-use, while supporting ANOHA’s core philosophy of creativity and imagination. The tactile nature of these sculptural objects and the sense of playful discovery as children recognize the familiar materials used to make them further serve to highlight the importance of respecting, treasuring and conserving global resources. Interactive exhibits placed along an intuitive visitor pathway teach children how to solve problems independently and as a group, while explorative spaces modeled after unique habitats allow children to experience the diverse perspectives of the various animals.
Sustainable strategies are embedded in the architectural design as an integral part of the user experience. Extensive mechanical systems are eliminated thanks to the environmental buffer of the existing hall, significantly lowering energy loads. Ceiling fans and operable windows in the ark allow for air exchange and natural ventilation. The hall’s curved concrete roof forms draw daylight into the interior. The ark’s windows support this passive daylighting approach, while visually connecting ANOHA with the existing structure of the hall.
Our design approach was to create a modern retelling of the ancient story of Noah's Ark – an experience that provides a sense of hope and possibility to the people who will visit it.Alan Maskin
Team
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Design Principal
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Project Manager
Stephen Yamada-Heidner
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Project Architect
Martina Bendel
Awards
2023
Architizer A+ Awards, Jury Winner, Gallery & Exhibition Spaces Category
2022
Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards, Honorable Mention, Exhibition Design Category
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Awards, Honorable Mention
2021
AIA Seattle Honor Awards for Washington Architecture, Award of Merit
2020
AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Design Awards, Honor Award
Interior Design Best of Year Award Winner, Kids’ Zone Category
Publications
2022
“Olson Kundig.” Hopitality Interiors, 10 Feb. 2022. Web.
“Olson Kundig.” Hospitality Interiors, Jan./Feb. 2022, 60-66. Print.
Toia, Paola. “Berlin, laboratory of the present.” IFDM Online, 8 Jul. 2022. Web.
2021
Beautyman, Mairi. “Exhibition – No Animal Left Behind.” Metropolis, Jan./Feb. 2021, 42. Print.
Martino, Giovana. “Natural Ventilation Solutions in Interior Design.” ArchDaily, 28 Jun. 2021. Web.
Ryll, Christine and Philip Engelbrecht. “Neuinterpretation Einer Arche.” klimaBAUKULTUR, Mar. 2020, 24-25. Print.
Sunshine, Becky. “Best of Year – Kids’ Zone.” Interior Design, Jan. 2021, 48. Print.
“Ausstellungen endlich wieder live erleben!” AIT, Jul./Aug. 2021, 12. Print.
“Museum designed by Olson Kundig opens.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 30 Jun. 2021. Web.
“Museum designed by Olson Kundig opens.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 30 Jun. 2021, 1, 4. Print.
“ANOHA – Neues Kindermuseum im Jüdischen Museum, Berlin.” Wettbewerbe Aktuell, May 2021, 90-92. Print.
2020
“For Kids, By Kids.” FRAME, Nov./Dec. 2020, 93-97. Print.
“Die Moderne Arche: Liebt Den Beton.” Hauser, Oct./Nov. 2020, 28. Print.
“16 projects win AIA NW&PR design awards.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 14 Oct. 2020. Web.
“16 projects win AIA NW&PR design awards.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 14 Oct. 2020, 2. Print.
Ingram, Tracey. “There’s a lesson for us in a teacher-turned-architect’s approach to the Jewish Museum Berlin.” Frame, 24 Aug. 2020. Web.
“ANOHA—The Children’s World of the Jewish Museum Berlin.” Archello, 5 Aug. 2020. Web.
Scaramuzza, Maria Paola. “Chi salverà l’estate dei bambini.” Corriere della Sera, 18 Jun. 2020. Print.
Sunshine, Becky. “Rebuilding the Ark.” Interior Design, Apr. 2020, 195-202. Print.
2019
Badelt, Udo. “Lachen und lernen in der Arche Noah.” Der Tagesspiegel, 26 Sep. 2019. Web.
Badelt, Udo. “Von der Sintflut erzählen.” Der Tagesspiegel, 27 Sep. 2019, 24. Print.
Badelt, Udo. “Von der Sintflut erzählen.” Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten, 27 Sep. 2019, 24. Print.
“Das Jüdische Museum eröffnet eine Kinder-Arche.” BZ/BZ am Sonntag, 27 Sep. 2019, 27. Print.
Di Blasi, Johanna. “Die Rückkehr der Arche Noah.” Berliner Morgenpost, 27 Sep. 2019, 1, 17. Print.
“Die Arche Noah steht schon.” Der Tageszeitung, 27 Sep. 2019, 21. Print.
“Entdecken, Erforschen, Spielen.” Jüdische Allgemeine, 17 Sep. 2019. Web.
Lenz, Susanne. “Alle en Bord!” Berliner Zeitung, 27 Sep. 2019, 12. Print.
Lovell, Sophie. “Ark Rival.” Wallpaper*, October 2019, 257-258. Print.
Schmedding, Nina. “Rund wie ein Bagel.” Jüdische Allgemeine, 27 Sep. 2019. Web.
2017
“Costruire cultura ripartendo dai bambini.” Pagine Ebraiche, 9 Sept. 2017, 16. Print.
Goldmann, Ayala. “Mehr Gegenwart wagen.” Judische Allgemeine, 09 Mar. 2017, 3-6. Print.
Muller, Max. “Facelifting in Kreuzberg.” Berliner Morgenpost, 7 Mar. 2017, 7. Print.
Muller, Max. “Grundschuler sind meine Experten.” Tip Berlin, 23 Mar. 2017, 67. Print.
“Museo de los Ninos en el Museo Judio – Berlin.” Future Arquitecturas, May 2017, 49-51. Print.
2016
“Berlin plans Jewish museum for children inspired by Noah’s Ark.” ARTERY NYC, 11 Aug. 2016. Web.
Hickley, Catherine. “Berlin plans Jewish museum for children inspired by Noah’s Ark.” The Art Newspaper, 11 Aug. 2016. Web.
Johnson, Sara. “Jewish Museum Berlin Kindermuseum Olson Kundig.” Architect, 3 Aug. 2016. Web.
“Kindermuseum des Jüdischen Museums Wettbewerb in Berlin entschieden.” BauNetz, 22 July 2016. Web.
“OK’s Alan Maskin wins Berlin prize.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 10 Aug. 2016. Web.
“Olson Kundig gana el concurso para el nuevo Museo infantil del Museo Judio de Berlín.” Metalocus, 4 Aug. 2016. Web.
Speros, Will. “Olson Kundig Wins Competition to Design Jewish Museum Berlin’s Kindermuseum.” Contract, 9 Aug. 2016. Web.
“US-Architekten bauen für Kinder im Jüdischen Museum Berlin.” 3sat, 26 July 2016. Web.
“US-Architekten bauen für Kinder im Jüdischen Museum Berlin.” Berlin.de, 22 July 2016. Web.
“US-Architekten bauen für Kinder im Jüdischen Museum Berlin.” T Online, 22 July 2016. Web.
“US-Architekten bauen Kinderabteilung im Jüdischen Museum.” B.Z. Berlin, 22 July 2016. Web.
Welch, Adrian. “Alan Maskin Wins Jewish Museum Berlin Competition.” e-architect, 4 Aug. 2016. Web.
