In a desperate act of self-destruction, the centre of Eberswalde, outside Berlin, was flattened by the German Luftwaffe in April 1945. From then on the three-hectare site remained a vast wasteland, until in 2001 the administrative district of Barnim decided to erect a new building here, in the district´s main town, to accommodate the district council and the council departments. A Europe-wide architectural competition was held to find a sustainable design. It had to deliver the following: a mix of administration space and small-scale commercial units on the ground floors; public access through the site; high energy efficiency; and flexibility in office layouts for the various departments. The schedule of accommodation comprised four parts: the district assembly incorporating a meeting room for 60 people, and associated administrative units, plus three administration sections (1 to 3) with departments such as the treasury, social services, and business development.