#co_minds

1) Accomodation: Das Stue

Where: Tiergarten Berlin, Drakestrasse 1

What’s it about: A newly opened luxury boutique hotel with an International look and a Danish name (‘stue’ means living room in Danish). The restaurant and bar are designed by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, aiming to share a ‘feeling of intimacy and comfort with the guests’.

Why we love it: An amazing combination of wood, copper and muted colors – a mixture of historic ambiance and contemporary design. Oh, and the chandelier in the lobby is amazing!

  2) Fashion: Kaviar Gauche

Where: Linienstrasse 44 (Mitte)

What’s it about: Kaviar Gauche is a label based in Berlin founded by the designers, Johanna Kühl and Alexandra Fischer-Roehler in 2005, both graduates in fashion design from Esmod. Their goal: to create a symbiosis between bags and clothes. They include typical bag-elements in dresses, and dress-elements in bags.

Why we love it: It’s a Berlin based brand – but their evening gowns and bridal couture add real glamour to Berlin. And their debut-show in Paris this season was stunning!

  3) Concept store: Oukan 71

Where: Kronenstrasse 71 (near Friedrichstrasse)

What’s it about: A concept-store for Japanese and International avant-garde items. The Vietnamese Berlin resident Tran Mai Huy-Thong combines delicate chinaware with eccentric niche fashion designers, artistic accessories with cosmetics. The store even includes a tea bar with yummy Japanese cuisine.

Why we love it: Shop avant-garde designs while having matcha tea in all variations – can’t think of something more exotic in Berlin?

  4) Exhibition: Martin Kippenberger Sehr gut/ Very good

Where: Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum fuer Gegenwart

Until When: August 18th

What’s it about: In 2013 Martin Kippenberger would have celebrated his 60th birthday - that is, had he not died in 1997 due to an excessive life. At several places in the building, the Hamburger Bahnhof currently exhibits an artist whose work and life cannot be separated from one another - a painter, an actor, a writer, a musician, a drunkard, a dancer, a traveller, a charmer, an enfant terrible and self-producer. In short, an ‘exhibitionist’ as he called himself and an artist who today is considered one of the most significant of his generation.

Why we love it: It’s a mixture of his art and private photographs, books and films. Very conceptual and very ironic, making it a must see.

  5) Fashion Start-Up: Scarosso

Where: Online @www.scarosso.com

What’s it about: Handmade, welted men's and women's shoes – designed and manufactured in Italy – at an attractive price. The best thing about Scarosso is that you can customize your shoes, and that works especially well for Men’s shoes. One can choose the model, the leather, lining, soles, decoration and stitching – and create their very own customized pair.