BER Airport: Schwitzke & Partner design the ‘Adler & Bär’ bar as an architectural haven of tranquillity

A new dining venue called “Adler & Bär” opened in Terminal 1 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in mid-March. On the landside of Terminal 1, a 210-square-metre space in the departures area has been transformed into an open, contemporary bar. Schwitzke & Partner were responsible for the concept and design of the project. The client is Casualfood GmbH.

At the centre stands a freestanding pavilion, which, with its open and transparent structure, blends seamlessly into the space. A surrounding, green parapet defines the guest area, covering around 163 square metres, whilst simultaneously creating a clear spatial boundary. The design combines accessibility with architectural precision: rounded and smooth transitions, along with a minimalist design language, ensure a sense of visual lightness despite the building’s scale. A defining element is the lighting concept: backlit façade surfaces illuminate the pavilion differently depending on the time of day. Subtle, warm colour tones and materials with a slight retro character, such as those with a tiled finish, underline the urban concept and lend the venue an international capital city flair.

“With ‘Adler & Bär’, we combine our distinctive design style with many years of experience in creating dining spaces at airports. The combination of greenery, light and minimalist geometry creates a space that invites visitors to linger and deliberately provides a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the airport,” says Lukas Schwitzke, Managing Director of Schwitzke & Partner.

The project required a high degree of integrated planning and design expertise. Schwitzke & Partner succeeded in translating complex technical and structural requirements – ranging from ventilation and fresh air systems to fire safety and material specifications, right through to escape routes – precisely into a coherent architectural overall concept.

With this project, Schwitzke & Partner once again demonstrates its expertise in designing sophisticated retail and hospitality concepts in high-traffic environments.