From Coins to Culture

Built in 1936 to house Berlin’s new mint, the Alte Münze complex produced four different currencies before being shut down in 2005. Only the dark vaults in the spacious cellars, the three chimneys and the barred windows still recall the buildings’ industrial past. For the last 10 years or so, the former factory between Alexanderplatz and Fischerinsel has been used as an event, exhibition and work space.

Alte Münze From Coins to Culture 2019

After years of interim use, in 2018 Berlin’s parliament passed a resolution providing funding for renovations and designating the buildings as a permanent hub for cultural and creative endeavors – a situation without precedent in Berlin’s history. Working with Urban Catalyst, we helped future residents from Berlin’s art and culture scene develop a participatory concept for the use and operation of the Münze complex.
We set up a multipurpose project space on site, the ideal environment for an adventure of co-creation. A diverse group of around 40 participants gathered there to develop goals, visions and scenarios for Alte Münze’s future use. To complete the process, we created documentary media summing up the results, both to communicate the project to the public and to be used in future workshops.

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