Berlin Skybars

On recent visit to Berlin I was amazed by the variety of design within this fantastic city. I had expected to see some great new architecture as well as remnants from the cold war and soviet blocks and maybe its these contrasts that have led to a new wave of design in the city where nothing is quite as expected.

Skybars are incredibly popular in Berlin in a way that I haven’t seen in any other city, its seems that in almost every tower there’s a slick modern bar at the top, all with stunning views and interiors and a mix of minimal, furnished with design classics to the retro and cheesy to the point of being cool. One of the slick examples is the Solar Bar. Set in an unassuming 60s block near Potsdamer Platz, Berlins Canary Wharf. Once you actually find the place after weaving through the car park and passing the main block entrance you turn into to a secretive looking door, opened by a concierge to a reception with an eerie feeling that you’ve stepped into somewhere you shouldn’t have… I actually had to ask if this was the solar bar… a few seconds in an glass lift and you re-enter the building on the top floor to a slick black and white interior with 3m high windows framing the city, the leather seating is suspended from the ceiling and arranged to take in the views with the mezzanine level giving an impression of floating above the city skyline. With the Cold war TV tower and Eastern accommodation blocks as a backdrop to a Champagne Mojito you could be in another era…

A World within a World

To follow on where Sammi left off, what a truly amazing place - potentially one of the best shopping-centre-experiences in the World?! Having spent time in HK and being blown away by their fascination with shopping Malls, Westfield White City is reminiscent of of their glamour and splendour.

As a customer it felt spacious, light and airy (bearing in mind this was a Monday evening). The absence of any hard angular lines makes the space feel fluid and easy to navigate. The wayfinding pods not only look fabulous but also work well with touch screen technology used in such a human way you'd think it was designed by Apple. The stores are great, feeling like a collection of flagships to the point that your never sure where to look next.

As a designer, inspirational. Enough said. Any aspiring designer should get down there and understand not only that it looks good, but also why it all works so well.

As a real person in the real World at a time of an economic downturn....its timing is the only downfall. Nothing Westfield could do about that, but it does feel slightly superficial and not part of the real World.

Still, great experience. Go see it.

Westfield

Just before Christmas I visited the new Westfield store which is located in White City, Shepherds Bush.



The experience began when I stepped of the train. The whole surrounding area has been reworked from the pavements to the buildings to the trees, plants etc. It feels as if walking in to a picture everything looks so perfect and new.

The design of the building is quite extraordinary when entering Westfield you feel like your leaving the world behind and stepping into the future. The outer shell is very impressive and almost has a Buckminster fuller feel to it with the interior housing a fascinating wooden structure.





They have managed to capture this luxurious futuristic feel with all the high-end retail stores being present and each offering a design experience of their own.



The touch screen monitors in the main complex offer you information on all the stores and where they’re all located and the small cafes individually placed throughout the complex also fit in with the design of the building.

Unfortunately I didn’t get chance to look around it all but will definitely be going back, a great experience all in all.