Converting a gas station into a Berlin home

The next time you stop at a gas station to fuel your car, pause for a minute and try to imagine living at the gas station, better said in the gas station. Absurd, crazy, ridiculous? Think twice! Juerg Judin, one of Berlin’s most influential gallerists, has converted a 1950s gas station in the middle of the Berlin neighbourhood Schöneberg into his unconventional home and private exhibition space. This incredibly beautiful and unique home underlines the peculiarities of urban living – thinking out of the box and creating homes with existing structures that initially had another function.

I am particularly fascinated by the fact that this former 1950s gas station has turned into an urban oasis hosting not only the home owner but also his three chicken from a noble Indonesian breed alongside with equally exotic ducks and geese. Lush plants surround the area formerly frequented by cars and other vehicles. The actual building itself is another fascinating example of unusual urban dwelling – the typical mid-century shapes and materials, the large rounded glass front, the former garage – all this was turned into a very personal home filled with art curated by the gallerist Juerg Judin himself. What used to be the sales area until 1982 is now the living room with mid-century furniture and a large Bauhaus-style chandelier and the spacious former garage is now a large open-space kitchen.

Here’s a funny sidenote how I got aware of this fantastic home: The home tour and interview including a video was produced by Berlin-based Freunde von Freunden in collaboration with Siemens Home – the latter being my employer for whom I am managing social media projects. One of those projects was sharing the home story of Jürg Judin – one of three home stories created by Siemens Home in collaboration with Freunde von Freunden. How lucky am I? To see more of this creative home, read the interview with the gallerist Jürg Judin and watch a video hop over to Freunde von Freunden. To discover two other equally amazing home stories, visit Siemens Home. Have fun!

Photography by Ailine Liefeld courtesy of Siemens Home / Freunde von Freunden