Locke has announced the opening of Locke at East Side Gallery, its first property in Berlin and third in Germany.
Designed by Matthew Grzywinski of Grzywinski+Pons, Locke at East Side Gallery takes its design cues from its surroundings – most notably the former Berlin Wall, River Spree and neighbouring parks. The new opening comprises 176 studio apartments, equipped with kitchenettes and living areas, while many have a private balcony.
Each apartment combines neutral tones, natural textures and raw concrete with pops of playful colour. Within rooms, walls are composed of timber panelling, with kiln-formed glass inspired by the surface of the River Spree acting as a partition to the bathroom. Bedrooms see turmeric chairs, pastel mirrors and heavily braided grass rugs juxtaposed with suede and rattan floor screens and bedheads, while bathrooms feature back-painted black glass and exposed structural concrete walls softened with a powdery finish.
Locke at East Side Gallery also features a co-working area and coffee shop, as well as audiophile bar and restaurant Anima, which is inspired by Japan’s “Kissaten” hi-fi cafes. Communal spaces on the ground floor are connected – in a subtle nod to the Berlin Wall – through the use of non-continuous walls, which create “neighbourhoods” throughout. Built-in seating and planters are fabricated from locally-sourced bricks comprised of recycled sand and lime, while furnishings follow a cohesive palette of timber, cane, fabric and cord, surrounded by verdant vegetation spilling out of planters and cascading from the ceiling.
The property also houses a flexible meeting and events space that includes a rooftop terrace, as well as a gym on the eighth floor.
In move intended to reflect the cultural heritage of Berlin, Locke has partnered with unisex brand Fade Out Label to provide uniforms for the staff at Locke at East Side Gallery. Fade Out has collaborated with Berlin Wall artist Mirta Domacinovic to create a uniform collection which features symbols of hope, new beginnings and Berlin’s resilience. Committed to a sustainable design approach, the brand has utilised deadstock to repurpose a collection that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill.
“We are thrilled to be opening our first Locke in Berlin, a city of innovation and creativity,” says Stephen McCall, Chief Executive Officer, edyn. “Locke at East Side Gallery has been a very special project for us and the finished result is an incredible offering. With an exciting partnership in place with audiophile bar and restaurant Anima, spectacular views across the River Spree and located in a great location within the trendy inner-city districts Friedrichschain, Kreuzberg and Mitte, we are excited to open the doors and welcome people to Locke at East Side Gallery.”
