LAVA to transform recently discovered abandoned cabaret theater in berlin

‘secret garden’ by LAVA, berlin, germanyimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goynall images courtesy of Moritz Gruppe

recently discovered in berlin beneath remains from world war II, an abandoned cabaret theater named the ‘secret garden’ has been cleared andgerman and australian firm LAVA  has been selected to envisioned the site as a public space. built in 1905, the once music hall has been buried with 30 tons of rubble since 1934 in an effort to suppress the cabaret activities at the time. amidst a residential area, the discrete exterior and bricked-up windows helped to conceal its presence over the years, until dick moritz of the moritz group stumbled upon the derelict structure and deemed it a treasure.with only a few buildings existing from that period in the city, the opportunity remains to allow visitors to experience the scene of the twenties and thirties. 

due to regulations, the site must take on a new function and the three levels of ballrooms and theaters will be renovated for apartments and offices as well as exhibitions, studios, meetings and conferences. the large-scale murals and original stucco walls will be retained as a reminder of its past life. the renovated product will contribute to art, already hosting exhibitions since the rubble has been cleared. 

transformed spaceimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

painted muralimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

archesimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

wall detailimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

mezzanineimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

mezzanineimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

view from upper level mezzanineimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

upper levelimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

view from upper levelimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

original state underneath layer of rubbleimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

before the rubble was clearedimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn

exteriorimage © Moritz Gruppe GmbH/Ronny Goyn