Strict lines and grids combined with soft materials, in playful, almost meditative rhythms — no one else interprets hand weaving as beautifully and poetically as Studio Jumi. Jumi is Julia Buntzel and Miriam Rose Gronwald – the artist duo joined forces in 2022 to work together at the intersection of art, craft and design, and to campaign for the preservation of traditional hand weaving. But they even go one step further. Breaking away from conventions without breaking sacred traditions, Jumi shows how weaving can be a fine art. Inspired by the Bauhaus and its textile workshops — where artists such as Anni Albers, Gunta Stölzl and Otti Berger combined the craft of hand weaving with the language of modern art — Julia and Miriam draw on their knowledge while simultaneously searching for new possibilities and pushing the boundaries of weaving by dissolving and condensing woven fabric structures. In doing so, they ultimately create unique works of art, fragments, forms and materials. Jumi aims to keep the history of weaving alive with commissioned works, site-specific pieces and small limited editions (here too, each piece remains unique). They also host regular weaving workshops in their studio.

In the “Sketching with Yarn” workshop, you spend an afternoon weaving different materials, textures and colors on a four-shaft loom to create your very own textile. In the “Napkins! The Art of Handcrafted Table Weaves” workshop, you can even make your own set of (up to four) table napkins over a weekend. It feels magical to go home with two of your own textile patterns without having any prior weaving knowledge. In the end, there’s only one thing left to say: thank you. Thank you for making textile art so exciting and accessible, thank you for showing us how things can be reinterpreted without sacrificing tradition, and thank you, Julia and Miriam, for ensuring such a beautiful craft will not be forgotten.

Text: Robyn Steffen / Photos: Chiara Lüghausen, Jean-Paul Pastor Guzmán, Robyn Steffen

Studio Jumi, Seelenbinderstr.141, 12555 Berlin–Köpenick; map
Find out more about the next workshops here. 

@studio.jumi

Take a plunge and escape the cold, your everyday routine, and gloomy headspace. Head over to Pfefferberg! Established in 2005, tucked away in an unsuspecting backyard, there’s a sauna crafted by enthusiasts for those looking to break a sweat: Olivin. The creators call it a “Wellness Lounge”, but you’d likely consider it more of a “Sauna Spa”. Details aside, what’s important is this: it’s a classic sauna that’s still a bit of a hidden gem. In Olivin, you’ll find all of the sauna essentials: a spacious Finnish sauna overlooking not an olive grove, but a bamboo garden. And an outdoor area with a fountain, shower, plunge pool, and heated lounge chairs. But what sets it apart is the team, who put genuine care into making your sauna experience special. Every full hour includes 10-15 minute infusion rituals with 100% pure essential oils, poured three times. Depending on the team member, a clean and simple single scent may be infused, or an aromatic journey that varies with the time of day and season. Here’s a teaser of a hopefully-not-feeling-under-the-weather-season (aka winter) infusion: from spruce (anti-inflammatory and respiratory) to fennel (relaxing and soothing) to lemon (immune-boosting). A sauna session isn’t just great for the body — it works wonders for frazzled nerves too, especially when guided by scents like patchouli (grounding), nutmeg (strengthening), and orange (invigorating). Olivin Pfefferberg lives up to its name: things get fiery! But Olivin is more than just a name, it comes from the type of stone used for infusions. Besides many other qualities, olivine stone is supposed to strengthen confidence — we could all do with some of that. And if all that isn’t enough to entice you, massages are also on the menu — after all, Olivin is a Wellness Lounge.

Text: Maria Mayer  / Photos: Robyn Steffen

Olivin Wellness Lounge Sauna, Schönhauser Allee 177, 10119 Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg; map

Mon–Sun 12–00h