Ever the neighbourhood for creative repurposing, Kreuzberg will see the opening of a new gallery space this weekend – in a former WWII telecommunications bunker, of all places. After two years of renovation by renowned British minimalist architect John Pawson, the heavyset concrete structure will house the East Asian and contemporary art collection of Désiré Feuerle. The German collector has established a reputation for curating works spanning wildly different artistic eras and styles, and the new gallery space will see the curious combination of 7th century Khmer stone sculptures alongside works by Anish Kapoor and Cristina Iglesias. This said, it’s undoubtedly the renovated space that has most grabbed my attention. Within its two meter thick walls, the bunker comprises one room interrupted with huge columns supporting an even thicker ceiling, all made of the highest-quality concrete. Complete with accented lighting and a traditional tearoom, experiencing the heavy atmosphere of the space will be as rewarding as viewing the collection itself. (Photo: (top, left) Gilbert McCarragher, (bottom) &beyond)
The Feuerle Collection will be open to the public for a one-off preview week as part of Gallery Weekend, from 29.4-7.5.2016 11–19h. The official opening will be in Autumn 2016.
BASA Bunker, Hallesches Ufer 70, 10963 Berlin-Kreuzberg; map
George Kafka was an editor at uncube magazine and is a founding member of Berlin-based editorial collective &beyond. He lives in Berlin-Neukölln.
