Discovering An Urban Oasis
Sometimes you don’t have to travel very far to find beauty as you can find it in your own backyard. For me this is Berlin, a place I’m coming to love more and more.
One of the most impressive things about Berlin is creative and cool things that are done with their urban spaces. For example, one of my favorite presentations at the recent Hello Etsy summit in Berlin was given by Marco Clausen who discussed how he helped turned a piece of urban wasteland into a community garden, the Prinzessinnengärten. In May 2010, Tempelhof, an old airport was opened as a park. There’s even an abandoned amusement park, Spree Park which opens from time-to-time for festivals or public tours.
So imagine my delight when I got a chance to hang out with some locals who live on the east side of Berlin in Prenzlauer Berg. The courtyard of their building had been turned into a really pretty space filled with planted flowers, garden gnomes, a giant picnic table and other really fun “artsy” touches.
What could have been left plain was turned into something really beautiful and unique.
27 Comments
Lovely pictures 🙂
Thank you!! It was fun taking them and certainly brings back fond memories of that day. 🙂
I love the blue chairs 🙂 They look so comfy!
Ha ha. Cute right? This is one of the many many reasons I love Berlin so much.
Personally I’m not much into Germany but Berlin is definitely on my wishlist. It always looks so vibrant and colourful in photos.
Berlin is great! Weird and wonderful all at the same time. 🙂
The old buildings have come to life again and from your photos it all looks very visitor friendly and eye catching in a positive way. Very nice selection of photos.
Thanks so much. Prenzlauer Berg (also where I live) is one of the most gentrified parts of Berlin and the most European feeling. Not every area of Berlin is so nice though unfortunately. This is why I appreciate the beauty when I find it … this courtyard is a great example of a community taking action to make something beautiful.
Can’t wait to see wild and wonderful Berlin for myself! And yay for fun neighbours =) Great pics
Can’t wait till you guys are here. We have to hang out for sure. Some other local travel bloggers I know may be interested in having a travel themed meet-up! 🙂
Beautiful shots! I was in Berlin 30 years ago. Maybe it’s time to go back.
Thanks Nancie. 🙂
Come back for sure, it’s a spectacular city!
Haven’t been properly back to East Berlin since it was in a different country. It really is time to go back. Very bright and appealing photos.
Thanks! It’s quite beautiful in … spots. It’s a city of contrasts.
Come for a visit. We can meet-up! 🙂
Those are pretty cool pictures. Berlin is definitely on my destination list for next year when I get back to Europe.
Thank you! Hope you make it here and when you do, drop me a line.
I love the creativity and of turning something ugly into something beautiful, another reason I still have to make it to Berlin.
I’m especially impressed with the community garden I mentioned.
And yes, please come and visit! 🙂
I love what they do to urban places. Berlin is so progressive in this sense. We are doing similar things in Seattle – revitalizing old spaces so they won’t deteriorate. It produces quite the creative and surprising results. Makes me want to really visit Berlin.
I hope you can make it to Berlin sometime!
If you have time, watch the video I referenced in the post about the community garden they formed in Berlin. Was such an amazing and inspiring talk! All their work was done WITHOUT city funding.
Also glad to hear that similar things are happening in Seattle. Go world!
Very pretty photos! I love the use of the sinks as planters.
Thanks Michael! I like the planters too. 🙂
Lovely pics, what beautiful colors. Loved the greens, blues and the reds!!!
Looks like you had a blast.
Have a fabulous sunday Cheryl:)
Thanks! Such a pretty space. And it was a great afternoon! 🙂
Wonderful photos!
Thank you!
[…] – at one point, Sabrina agreed to show us her friend’s apartment because of their cool urban courtyard, rooftop patio and unique kitchen arrangement where the bathtub is in the kitchen! This is when I […]