MODEM: Cold War Power Plant Transformed into Berlin Art and Music Venue

One of things I didn't get to do when I was last in Berlin was visit Ari Benjamin Meyers' "Modem," a new music and art space he's building from an abandoned 23,000 square meter power and heating plant which once provided all the heat for East Berlin. A pity, too, because not only is it a huge industrial space (which I love), it's full of crazy Cold War-era knobs and dials stenciled with inscrutable German labels. (At least to monolingual me.)

On the plus side, it gives me yet another reason to go back to Berlin!

The space isn't open yet from what I can tell, but it's going to be an amazing venue when it's completed. And for now you can look at the pretty pictures and imagine what it will be like to see shows inside.

Press Release, Project Site, and more images [Modem-Berlin]

[#1 posted by Simon Greenwood , January 17, 2008 7:18 AM]

That looks like Kraftwerk in more ways than one. It would be cool if the owner had hooked up all the controllers and knobs to sound makers.

[#2 posted by dculberson , January 17, 2008 8:04 AM]

That does look like an incredible space.

[#3 posted by zrenneh , January 17, 2008 10:27 AM]

It's already open! At least in part, I think. There's a huge power station on Köpenicker Str, (the address given on the Modem website)
where Tresor, the legendary techno club, has just re-opened (it closed a few years ago in a previous location).
http://www.tresorberlin.de/
The rest of what they have planned looks amazing.

[#4 posted by Kid , January 17, 2008 10:55 AM]

I wonder if it's going to end up a Tate Modern or a Lunatarium. For parties, I would wish for the latter. :)