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An integral part of Slowness’s approach to hospitality is its forward-looking embrace of cultural heritage. How do you go about striking a balance between such antithetical goals like celebrating local traditions and fostering innovation?
We don’t think of innovation and tradition as being necessarily antithetical. You can look, for instance, at one of our partners in Portugal, Passa ao Futuro, which is a research-based nonprofit that “cultivates an interface for the development of ideas, techniques and skills between the historical past and the sustainable future.“ In other words, they link traditional artisanal skills from various regions in Portugal with new design methods in a way that actually innovates the industry.
Adaptive reuse is a central tenet of Slowness’ philosophy. How does it connect with your drive for sustainability, cultural preservation and connection to local communities?
Often, it’s very simple: why tear it down and build anew when you can use what’s already there? In Berlin, we are currently transforming the former Lichtenberg Municipal River Baths, a Weimar-era public bathing facility that once welcomed up to 10,000 visitors per day, into a cultural campus encompassing exhibition spaces, gastronomy, creative studios and workspaces—all integrated into the wild riverfront environment. Flussbad, as the project is called, nods to the site’s unique history through its sustainable redevelopment of ex-industrial eastern Berlin for the purpose of leisure and hospitality.
Sounds very intriguing! Tell us a bit more about this project. Is it open to the public?
We began our phased opening in September with the Reethaus, a subterranean performance space designed by Austrian architect Monika Gogl as a homage to ancient temples, caves and other natural voids. With its monastic cement interiors and 360-degree in-built spatial sound system, the Reethaus offers ideal conditions for experiential installations, mind-body practices, holistic learning and artistic performance drawn from Berlin’s rich cultural scene.