Designed by the renown German architect Ludwig Hoffmann, Stattbad (formerly Sadtbad Wedding) – which has nothing to do with marriage but refers to a public swimming pool in one of Berlin northern districts – hosts something that is quite different from its original conception. Built in 1907, the building was supposed to meet a sanitation need for a poorly-equipped workers neighborhood nearby. The architectural design consisted of two pools, officially called “large” and “small.” The first one was strictly dedicated to men’s bathing, whereas women were only admitted in the second one.
The building endured severe damage during WWII and its reconstruction finally commenced in the late fifties, as seen in the grey glass panels of the façade:
Stadtbad Wedding had to close its doors in 2001 for hygienic reasons. The site was sold to a property investor, Arne Piepgras, who has re-purposed the space for cultural events and concerts with a focus on street art. Numerous performances and events – from ephemeral abstract installation to trendy DJ sets – have taken place in Stattbad Wedding. As Stadtbad Wedding’s functions changed, so did its name in a very tricky way. It now carries the name of Stattbad (statt = stead), a way to convey its re-rebirth.
The visitor suffering from thirst could even enjoy a bar designed by the art collective 3Eck (Dreieck = Triangle) such as an experimental garden in the summer. A co-working place has also been in the space since 2011.
