One of my favorite escapes on a sunny day is a bike trip to Köpenick. From where I live in Kreuzberg, the route offers a nice sequence of diversity — my favorite stops being the abandoned buildings. A bike trip on the northern side of the Spree towards Köpenick is an exciting journey into the eastern history of Berlin where plants are now taking over. The enormous Heizkraftwerk is made entirely of brownstone and the workers’ houses behind it are the first highlights of the journey. Next is the entrance to Funkhaus. If you take a closer look at the large red brick building on the right hand side you realize it’s only a thin façade — behind the glass is a forest. Once in Köpenick, my goal is the abandoned Kabelwerk in Friedrichshagener Straße north of Müggelspree. Many lush plants are taking over the former production halls, and trees are growing through the roof. Creating strips of nature, they match the long openings in the ceiling and create a fantastic self-grown indoor park. Usually the gates are open and people walk quietly around inside, as it somehow feels impolite to disturb the silence. (Text & Photos: Sigurd Larsen)
Sigurd Larsen is a Danish architect and furniture designer. A selection of his creations can be found at Formel A. Since 2016, he has held a Professorship at Berlin’s BAU International University.
