Located in a former fire station in Gesundbrunnen, artist Diana Tsantekidou’s (aka RtmiS) bright, two-storey studio is where she has run her terrazzo workshops since 2017. Tsantekidou likes sharing the designs and materials of her native Greece: she seems nostalgic when talking about her time in Thessaloniki spent strolling across colorful terrazzo floors of natural marble and pigmented concrete. In the workshops, she lets you create your very own unique terrazzo out of the casting material Jesmonite. After a short introduction, it’s time to choose what to make: a plate, a pen holder or a small tray. Surrounded by Diana’s furniture and objects, it’s impossible to be uninspired, though arriving at the perfect color combination can be tricky. The best part of the process is when you crumble the thin, matt-dried Jesmonite layer to make your design.
Now it’s time to mix your base color, pour the mixture into your coaster mold, and leave to dry. You don’t have to wait long, but there’s time for a short tour through the backyard and a coffee break. Next up is sanding – only then will your colorful little chips appear – et voilà, you have your own handmade object that you can take home with you. Oh, and since Christmas is just around the corner, you can give your DIY coaster or even a workshop for two as a gift – both are guaranteed winners!
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
RtmiS atelier, Stockholmer Str.4, 13359 Berlin–Gesundbrunnen; map
Terrazzo workshops take place twice a month on Sun 10h30–14h or 11–14h30. The next sessions will take place on 10 & 17.12.2022. Find all dates online – each workshop is limited to 10 places.
@rtmis
