Former Bus Depot of the Berlin transport company – built in 1927 by architect Franz Ahrens, at that time with 7.000 square meters the largest shed in Europe – was confiscated by the nazis during the war, used as refugee camp afterwards and became isolated in the Wall zone from 1961.

In 1995 organisation ART Kombinat starts to develope a cultural “microcosmos” in the complex: In the middle the big hall, surrounded by extraordinary locations like Glashaus (1920´s style theatre and nightclub), Hoppetosse (nightclub and restaurant on a boat), Badeschiff (floating swimming pool in the river Spree) and Magazin (shed exhibition space). All programs are connected by an empty industrial paved riverfront (Freifläche) where outdoor events take place.

Until 2004 the area was partially rented by YAAM (Young and african art market), which organized music and sports events by the riverside.

www.arena-berlin.de
www.yaam.de

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Project Badeschiff by AMP arquitectos, Gil Wilk and Susanne Lorenz
Project Yaam club by www.peanutz-architekten.de

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01. Overview

02. Bus Depot

03. Badeschiff

04. Badeschiff during winter time (photograph by Inge Kanakaris-Wirtl; www.structurae.de)