The project revolves around the city of Berlin and it’s street culture and Graffiti. It focuses in the transformation of a building complex in Berlin that introduces the healing qualities of graffiti art in the city.

Final Studio project was designed at the Department of Architecture of  De Montfort University at Leicester School of Architecture.

-text by the author

Berlin has always held a colorful place in history but nowadays the color palette of the vibrant city has literally been transformed due to graffiti. After getting the chance to visit Berlin during my final year at De Montfort University (Leicester School of Architecture) as part of my degree, I decided to base my Studio project on this form of Art.

Plagued by this form of street art, there is little appreciation for this illegal activity and most Berliners consider Graffiti to be an act of vandalism. However, it has the ability to unleash unlimited creative potential if channeled correctly.

What If we could clean up Berlin physically and environmentally and turn the notion of Graffiti upside down?

“Tag it Central” aims to heal.  Amateur graffiti can be nurtured via teaching and experimentation in a controlled and supervised environment. Various spaces and studios are provided for the amateur artists to experiment in and re-learn the craft and skill involved with Graffiti.

Vandalism becomes legal in a designated hub of activity, the temporary can be permanent works of art to be exhibited and purchased to sustain the community of graffiti artists living within the complex whilst the carbon footprint can be reduced as the revolutionary AIR-INK bonds carbon dioxide emissions with a pigment to replace the toxic spray can.

The building itself is embedded with sustainability and various technologies. It uses passive cooling, solar panels, vegetation and recycled materials. The building is infused with Graffiti and the façade is made from reclaimed graffitied bricks which create a patchwork looking façade.
Inspired by the rough and industrial nature of Graffiti the building takes hints from the High-Tech movement and the majority of its services and structure is left exposed in order to create large open spaces inside that can adapt to the needs of the artists.

The proposal is a celebration of Industrial/High-Tech Architecture, Graffiti and Art and juxtaposes the clean and minimalistic Bauhaus Archiv directly behind it.

The project doesn’t aim to dominate the Archiv but rather enhances the experience of the overall site.

Facts & Credits
Project title: Tag it Central
Student: Veniamin Bampilis
Institution: De Montfort University, Leicester School of Architecture