Contemporary Architecture in Berlin

Contemporary Architecture in Berlin

photo: Hans Christian Schink

Berlin is internationally recognized for many things, though contemporary architecture doesn’t seem to be one of them. As the building ground for many notable buildings with a rich history and the Bauhaus theories as prominent architectural influence, explorations in postmodern design didn’t come into play until later on. With postmodernism gaining steam among many architects in the second half of the 20th century, Berlin didn’t see the emergence of structures boasting more aesthetic appeal than its modernist predecessors until the late 80s. By assimilating the order and regulation of classical architecture into new forms and using fragments of the turbulent past to build Berlin’s present structure and identity, our city boasts the unique structures of two competing ideologies. The evolution of this contemporary metropolis has since brought forth the likes of David Chipperfield, Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Rem Koolhaas and many more as anti-vernacular, innovative architects who pushed past boundaries to produce aspirational works. With many building proposals already in the works to be realized in the coming years, it’s time to discover (or revisit) some of the most interesting architecture in Berlin. Leaving out already well-established landmarks like the Jewish Museum and Memorial, the Reichstag, the Philharmonie, and the Neue Nationalgalerie, I’ve compiled a list of attention-grabbing design that just might change the way you see Berlin. Click on to check them out! read more…

Win Tickets for AXE BLACK SHIRT Launch with Joko & Dandy Diary

Win Tickets for AXE BLACK SHIRT Launch with Joko & Dandy Diary

Sometimes less is more. That’s probably what TV host Joko Winterscheidt thought to himself when he designed the T-Shirt for the new AXE Black with his label German Garment. The result couldn’t be more minimalistic, timeless and understated: A clean-cut, simply black T-Shirt. Joko Says about the shirt: “For me understatement means to focus on the basics. Fashion should underline the personality, not cover it up. With our version of the black shirt you are showing style without exaggeration.” The AXE BLACK SHIRT will be available in a limited edition starting on April 1, 2015. If you buy three products from the new AXE Black line you can order one of these shirts for free.

To celebrate the launch of this collaboration Joko and AXE got together with our fellow bloggers from Dandy Diary to organize an exclusive release party here in Berlin this Tuesday, on March 31, 2015. The Dandy boys will be DJing along with Quid Haden and there is going to be a secret main act that we really had to swear to keep secret, but I can tell you that much, it’s a BIG deal. We have a pair of tickets for you to win after the jump!

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Giant – 11 Performers, 22 Lights, 33 Hours in Studio 44

Giant – 11 Performers, 22 Lights, 33 Hours in Studio 44

How can I describe something like GIANT? After dropping by Studio 44 today, an endless list of adjectives came to mind; though they all sounded so equivocal the self-proclaimed “performative installation” began to lose meaning. It’s a piece spanning 33 hours between March 26-29th, featuring 5 main artists (including the always-radiant, outspoken and hilarious Tatiana Saphir aka The Fruit Salad) and many guests. The work explores spatiotemporal ideas, immersing the audience in such a formless way the line between performer and spectator quickly disappear. In many ways, the artists don’t seem to be performing at all but rather using theatrical situations to speculate discourse, which they process through engagement with each other, as well as material objects. Over the course of 33 hours, there are scheduled guest appearances, which turned out to be the only way I had any concept of time in there. I walked in expecting to take some photos and stay an hour or two to chat about the concept behind their work, but instead walked out 5 hours later, extremely content with what I had just experienced, and time was the last thing on my mind. You can find out more about GIANT and see the photos from yesterday’s run after the jump.

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Rosenkind Café & Boutique: An Afternoon Delight

Rosenkind Café & Boutique: An Afternoon Delight

Living just a few blocks away from Elbestraße, I was surprised to find Rosenkind there, inconspicuously tucked between apartment buildings. Located on one of the more residential streets of Neukölln, this charming café-boutique serves as a cozy local hangout that offers more than just delicious coffee and cake. This family-owned space also offers a unique shopping experience, while supporting young Berlin-based artists by providing a platform to present their work, be it art, handicrafts, music, fashion or events. With an interior that feels like a little treasure chest and a patio space to enjoy a beer or coffee in the sun, Rosenkind creates an inviting atmosphere that reminds us all to enjoy a break when our lives get too stressful and chaotic. I paid them a visit to have a chat with the lovely and charismatic Janan, who shared the recipe for her homemade vegan cake and told me about the concept behind their space. Click on to see why Rosenkind is the perfect afternoon stop on your stroll through Neukölln.

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Chaparro Goes Vegan: Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Berlin

Chaparro Goes Vegan: Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Berlin

Ever since I traveled through Mexico City two years ago, I’ve been on the hunt for authentic Mexican cuisine on par with the delicious tacos, quesadillas and tamales that lined the streets. More so, as a vegan who seems to be fueled by soy and hot sauce, finding spicy, vegan, Mexican food in Berlin has proven to be an ever-elusive feat. Though my kitchen is always stocked with limes, cilantro, habaneros and the like, the end result of my cooking always fell short of expectations. I blamed the vegan substitutes (almond milk horchata just didn’t measure up), and gave up on my search. Enter Chaparro, the Kreuzberg restaurant that offers vegan Mexican food bursting with flavours and life like the city it comes from. Offering both meat and veggie options at totally affordable prices, Chaparro is definitely a new favourite. Click on see the delicious things they offer!

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The Oscar-Nominated Short Films in Berlin

The Oscar-Nominated Short Films in Berlin

Ave Maria

It’s Oscar season again, and as the eagerly anticipated and globally televised event airs on February 28, 2016. Mobile Kino will be giving Berliners two special screenings of the short films in competition. The Oscars have narrowed down hundreds of internationally submitted short films to just 10, and Mobile Kino will be holding events at Babylon Mitte for you to experience them projected onto a big screen. The shorts program is divided into two categories: Live Action and Animation. The 5 animation shorts will be screened on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 20h and the 5 live action films will be screened on Monday, February 29, 2016 at 20h.  Click on to see the trailers of these innovative stories.

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Cinéma de Mode: Berlin Fashion Film Festival Call for Submissions

Cinéma de Mode: Berlin Fashion Film Festival Call for Submissions

Aspirational by Matthew Frost

Did January’s Fashion Week and February’s Berlinale leave you inspired? Thankfully, there’s a platform to unleash your ideas and creativity: The Berlin Fashion Film Festival. Since 2012, the BfFF has been an exciting event that takes place once a year to present the fashion film productions of creative minds in front of a festival jury. They hold open calls for submissions, and award the best films. When disciplines converge in art, it does more than bringing two mediums together. They are at once a reflector and propeller of one medium to the other. In the case of the BfFF, the short films I’ve seen cleverly unearthed the forms and textures of fashion through an experimentation and exploration of cinematic techniques. Click on to get a sneak peek of this year’s submissions, and don’t miss the deadline to enter your own film into the competition!

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Exploring Berlin: A Wellness & Beauty Guide

Exploring Berlin: A Wellness & Beauty Guide

A lot of the big cities of this world are known for their fast pace and stressfulness – not so Berlin. Here we like a more calm and relaxed lifestyle and we like to use every opportunity to come down and forget about our daily grind. Maybe it’s also because we have some amazing options in terms of wellness places that makes us so relaxed. In this spirit, we want to introduce some of our favourite destinations of beauty and wellness in Berlin. With these yoga studios, spas, gardens, salons and holistic retreats, you can easily escape the busy metropolis for a while, clear your mind and find tranquility. Click on to see our suggestions on where you can go to unwind and pamper yourself! read more…

Berlinale 2015: Our Top 10 Most Anticipated Films

Berlinale 2015: Our Top 10 Most Anticipated Films

The red carpet is soon to be rolled out once again as Berlin hosts the 65th edition of the world’s largest public film festival—Berlinale. This international film festival spans 11 days, from February 5th until the 15th, and is the first cinema showcase in Europe each year. This year, their program boasts more than 400 films, coming from a vast variety of backgrounds. Some recurring themes include subversion, human rights, gender equality, politics and existentialism, the majority of which are explored through poignant documentaries. Dieter Kosslick, the festival director, claims that many of these films put the focus on “strong women in extreme situations.” (However, out of the 23 Competition films, only 3 feature female filmmakers.) There will also be tons of opportunities for celebrity sightings around Potsdamer Platz, with Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emma Watson, Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and many more set to attend.

Ticket sales for select screenings started February 2nd, with more tickets to be released 2-3 days prior to each screening. Not sure which films to watch? We put together a list of our top 10 most anticipated films this year! Click on to see which movies made the cut. read more…

Exploring Berlin: The Hotspots of Potsdamer Straße

Exploring Berlin: The Hotspots of Potsdamer Straße

photo: Philipp Langenheim

For the longest time, Potsdamer Straße in Tiergarten has been a forgotten place famous only for its theatre and a couple of national museums. But in recent years, the street has developed into a melting pot for contemporary art with countless new galleries, and a few additions to the world of avant-garde fashion as well. In this guide we will discover all the new and exciting places, along with a few classics. Click on to tour the hotspots of this bustling street. read more…