This is your chance to take in some spectacular buildings and sites, some of which are not open to the public through the rest of the year. Several offer free tours by architects and historians who fill us in on the stories behind these buildings and spaces, and their novel transformations.
The Theme for this year's event is "Genuss" or Pleasure. Of the 320 Berlin sites open to the public this weekend, over a hundred fall into the category of Pleasure/Leisure. Here are my Top Five Favorites.
Wading in Culture
One: Stadtbad Steglitz, the beautiful Art Nouveau public pool with its high light-filled dome and mosaic ornamentations. The mosaic centerpiece in the sauna area uses clusters of tiny golden mosaic tiles while cast iron moldings in the shape of sea horses and sea shells clamber around the tops of columns.
A Historic Preservation site since 1982, the Stadtbad Steglitz closed in 2002 because it needed extensive renovation. To the rescue came investor Gabriele Berger, who bought the site for a symbolic sum of one Euro and agreed to find the several million Euros it will take to renovate and restore it to its original use. In the meantime she has converted it into an atmosphere-filled venue for theater or music performances, dances or parties.
Forget the XXL Tub of Popcorn
Two: The Astor Film Lounge at Kurfürstendamm 225, a cinema theater with a touch of class. Its history goes back to the late 40s when it opened as the Kino im Kindl, or KiKi. Restructurings made in the 1950s have survived till today, giving the theater a wonderful retro feel. From the 60s till very recently, it was the Film Palast. But just about a year ago, film buff and entrepreneur Hans Joachim Flebbe decided that if he applied a new concept to the 1950s theater, he could create the ideal experience for finicky cineasts.
At the Astor you can ask that your car be valet parked, have a welcome cocktail at the bar, sink into adjustable leather reclining seats, order champagne and finger food at your own private table and enjoy state-of-the-art sound, lighting and projection technology. Bliss!
The GDR's Premiere Cinema
Three: Kino International at Karl Marx Allee 33, the 1960s cinema theater that screened legendary film premieres in the GDR and even today is a favorite for premiere showings and Berlinale screenings.
Located opposite Cafe Moskau, which used to be the watering hole for GDR party members, the theater has been a Historic Preservation site since 1995. It is well worth a visit any time for its monumental post-Stalinist structure, grand foyer with crystal chandeliers, twin staircases, upholstered seating and sequined curtains. But a visit this weekend gives you a grand opportunity to discover more about its past.
Lakeside Splendor
Four: Schloss Wannsee, comprising six late-nineteenth century buildings on the shores of Lake Wannsee, including a picturesque half-timbered villa. Originally a recreation spot for sailboat-owners. the villa was used as a restaurant and the other buildings as boathouse, summer kitchen, restaurant and dance hall. This year extensive renovations are restoring all six buildings back to their turn-of-the-century glory. Since Schloss Wannsee is under private ownership, this is a rare chance for the public to view its charming interiors.
Historic Villa-and-Garden Ensembles
Five: an ensemble of three villa and garden landscapes planned by Mies van der Rohe in Zehlendorf in the early 1900s. Now used by the Parzival Schule, the three villas -- Haus Werner, Haus Perl and the Garten Haus -- are usually closed to the public, but this weekend Berliners are treated to a well-researched tour through the buildings and grounds, each of the three representing a distinct architectural style: neo-Classical, Bauhaus and Landhaus (or European country house).
Stadtbad Steglitz is at Bergstr. 90 (U-Bahnhof Schloßstraßse or U/S-Bahnhof Rathaus Steglitz). Open this Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm. More information at www.stadtbad-steglitz.de
The Astor Film Lounge is at Kurfürstendamm 225 (U-Bahnhof Kurfürstendamm). Open this Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 12 midnight. More information at www.astor-filmlounge.de
Kino International is at Karl-Marx-Allee 33 (U-Bahnhof Schillingstraße). Open this Saturday for three tours at 11:30 am, 1 pm and 2:30 pm. There will be an additional tour next Saturday, September 19 at 12 pm. More inf ormation at www.yorck.de
Schloss Wannsee is at Kronprinzessinweg 21 (S-Bahnhof Nikolassee). Open this Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.
The Mies van der Rohe Villas are at Quermatenweg 6 (U-Bahnhof Krumme Lanke). Open this Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. The villas are presently owned by the Parzival Schule. Their information is at www.waldorf.net/therapeutikum
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