Köpi, bâtiment de Berlin, Allemagne
Köpi is a residential settlement and cultural center in Berlin-Mitte that occupies a former 1905 industrial building and a yard where residents live in self-built wagons. The site includes a café, concert space, cinema, workshop areas, and gardens where approximately 50 people live and work together as a community.
The building was constructed in 1905 and its exterior sustained bomb damage during World War II; after the war it served various purposes in East Berlin until it was occupied in 1990. The occupation was among the first acts of direct takeover by West Berliners in East Berlin after the wall fell, marking the beginning of this ongoing community.
Köpi takes its name from the street, with residents deliberately using the Danish letter 'ø' in the spelling as a mark of identity. Today it serves as a meeting place for people exploring alternative ways of living, hosting concerts, film screenings, and workshops where artists, activists, and various groups come together.
The location sits centrally in Berlin-Mitte and is easily accessible by public transport; most areas of the wagon yard and communal spaces are open to visitors. Respect residents' privacy by asking before entering residential areas, and take time to speak with people and explore the various projects on site.
Köpi was occupied in 1990, immediately after the fall of the wall, and was one of the first places where West and East Berliners met after the city's division. The choice to write the name using the Danish letter 'ø' was a deliberate act of identity, symbolically linking this place with similar projects in other countries.
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