Travel · Art

Kindl Centre for Contemporary Art · Berlin, Germany

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Name: Kindl Centre for Contemporary Art
Photographer: Oliver Tomlinson
Words: Rosie Flanagan

In 2016, the 1920s building that housed the brewery of Berlin’s favorite beer was transformed, becoming the Kindl Centre for Contemporary Art—a cultural hub in the district of Neukölln.

Unlike many of the galleries and museums in Berlin, Kindl does not sit amongst other white-walled spaces. Situated in a semi-industrial area of Neukölln, the center’s neighbors include a nightclub, an NGO and a go-kart arena—an eclecticism typical of the suburb. Named after the German beer once made on the site, Kindl has retained many of its original features; including its dramatic brick expressionist facade and six monumental copper brew kettles, which are the largest of their kind in Europe. Measuring at over 5500 square meters, the building consists of a boiler house, a monumental three storey power house and a brewing space; each of which has been reimagined with a new purpose. The brewing space today houses a cafe where you can dine beside the traditional fermentation kettles, whilst the three storey power house has been reimagined as a more traditional white-cube space. The boiler house is a unique exhibition area where artists are invited to make site-specific work. Under the artistic direction of curator, Andreas Fiedler, the center holds several major exhibitions each year, along with artist talks, lectures and concerts.