After winning the design competition for Germany's tallest apartment tower in January, Frank Gehry's project for the building on Alexanderplatz has already run into problems over fears that the 150-metre building could be too heavy for its site.
The German edition of the Local is reporting that Berlin's Senate has placed the plans on hold because of the building’s proximity to the U5 branch of the U-Bahn tunnel, which it fears could be crushed under the weight.
Berlin’s transport authority BVG is also worried about the construction of the building, asking for clarification on whether they could run trains through the tunnel during construction.
Developer Hines Property Group has responded by commissioning a survey of the area to establish what effect the building will have on its site in Alexanderplatz, and on the U5 Tunnel.
However, despite this unexpected setback, Hines remains confident that the scheme will go ahead as planned, saying that they are “heading in the right direction and are confident that a decision will be made soon.”
