Berlin

Precious remnants of Berlin's past

You'll find it in an overgrown yard at the edge of an abandoned wasteland - 'Antike Bauelemente', a ramshackle treasure trove of architectural fittings rescued from old Berlin homes.

Wrought iron gates and stained glass windows jostle for space alongside hand-painted tiles and fragments of stucco. Dusty wooden doors are stacked together like playing cards; a family of cats roams through the undergrowth.

Antike Bauelemente has occupied this hidden corner of Berlin for over thirty years, as seemingly lost in time as the sprawling collection of relics itself. Now, however, its days are numbered, the surrounding swathe of land earmarked for new housing.

When, exactly, the business will be forced to close - and whether or not it can find alternative premises - remains to be seen. But now, more than ever, the antique artefacts require new homes to adorn. Visit while you can, and pick up a beautiful piece of Berlin's history.

See also:
A museum of bath-time history
Door to a lost architectural masterpiece

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