Trisha Travels: Around Berlin

Don't you like reading city guides? For us, city guides are a joy to flip through because even if it were a guide to a city we have lived in, we love seeing it from a different perspective and seeing how other people, whether tourists or locals, see the city. Here we have Trisha Toh, who hails from Malaysia, sharing with us a few spots she visited while she traveled around Europe.

Along with the two other cities Trisha visited, Berlin was another must-visit. We're sure this will whet your appetite for the city of Berlin. The next step is to book your tickets there but of course there is plenty of time for that after your go through the city guide. We are awestruck by the architecture, the cafes, the culture and of course much more that the city has to offer. 

Follow along with Trisha's European journey in the Bloesem Gazette " The Conversation Issue". 

To read the other city guides in this series: London & Barcelona

More places you should visit while in Berlin after the cut..

Craving Caffeine  

Zeit fur Brot

There seems to be a revival of ordering sweet pastries when having coffee in Berlin and this place tops the chart for unbeatable cinnamon buns. Baked fresh daily, they come in different seasonal flavours such as almond-marzipan, cherry, walnut-maple, poppyseed, chocolate and white chocolate just to name a few. 

Alte Schönhauser Straße 4

The Barn Roastery 

Once made headlines for enforcing a ban on baby strollers, milk in coffee and sugar, The Barn is no ordinary café. With a strict passion for good coffee, this is one of Berlin’s best places to learn and taste amazing coffee.

Schönhauser Allee 8

Westberlin

Quietly situated right around the corner of Checkpoint Charlie, westberlin is a great place to run from tourists hogging up the streets of Friedrichstraße. Loved by locals for years, the café offers a beautiful setting for work and casual meet-ups over a good cup of coffee and independent magazines from around the world.

Friedrichstraße 215

Suicide Sue

In the northern part of Prenzlauer Berg lays a quaint little café with a moniker of a (fictional) fearsome Asian assassin who turned her hand to baking biscuits and making open-faced sandwiches, making Suicide Sue highly favourable during breakfast and lunch times. True story.

Dunckerstraße 2

Roamers

This timber and succulent-filled café draws customers from all over the city who come for comfort food basics lovingly prepared by truly attentive owners with a penchant for wholesome, balanced living. When it’s available, their homemade carrot cake is worth the calories.

Pannierstrasse 64

 Arts & Culture 

Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum

The University Library of Humboldt-Universität was designed by Berlin-based Swiss architect, Max Dudler. Inside, visitors will encounter a big reading hall which is illuminated by natural roof light and contains green desks and lamps with stone covers for 250 people.

Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 3

Tempodrom

A cultural and visionary arena that was once a small circus tent is one of Berlin’s most remarkable constructions of recent years.

Möckernstraße 10

Berlin Tempelhof Airport

The former Tempelhof airport is now a public park, much to the delight of the people of Berlin. Today, the area is used for various activities by families and visitors.

Shop Stops 

Silo Store

A concept store offering design products that are made by various designers in Spain.

Senefelderstraße 33

Paper & Tea

P & T is a specialty tea company founded in Berlin. It offers a multi-sensory experience in which customers can see, smell and taste dozens of varieties arranged in little bowls at the sleek and minimalistic gallery.

Alte Schönhauser Straße 50

Gestalten Space

Berlin’s leading design and architecture publisher has a flagship store offering the imprint’s own publications along with a well curated selection of book titles, toys and products by designer and artists around the world.

Sophienstraße 21

Festivals and Festivities

Fête de la Musique

Berliners celebrate the beginning of summer with an open air music festival originally founded in France. It is celebrated every year on the 21st of June.

Festival of Lights

Every year, Berlin’s world famous landmarks in the city centre become the canvas for spectacular light and video projections for a number of days. Art functions and events will also take place during the Festival.

Images courtesy of Trisha Toh.

.. Trisha Toh
.. Read the Bloesem Gazette " The Conversation Issue"

MUR lifestyle

Fun fact: MUR is French for ripe. It is also the name for the webshop that we are currently ogling.. Started by a husband and wife duo, MUR lifestyle is the place to go if you are one who loves home goods and kitchen accessories produced by small scale manufacturers, artisans and designers who want to move away from the "disposable culture". 

We suggest you stop purchasing items that are temporary and start investing in quality pieces that will stand the test of time and just age beautifully. 

MUR lifestyle is the perfect outlet for Danielle and Joel, the brains behind MUR; a way where Danielle's love for design can come together with Joel's business mind. Way to go guys!

.. MUR lifestyle

Link Love

Love the light and soft hues used throughout this Melbourne apartment.. And don't you think the copper side table makes such a great contrast with the colour scheme of the room? 

Weaving, textiles and housewares by New Friends.

Newest cafe in Amsterdam.. Stooker Roasting Co.

A home built inside a wall of stone.. believe it.

Watercolour easter egg..

Alchemy-inspired design..

Swedish students show us the true meaning on minimalism.

Welcoming Cluse watches to the store..

The Bloesem Team is deeply saddened and wishes to express our condolences to the family of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the people of Singapore. He was indeed a great man.

Xo, The Bloesem Team

Piluro

One thing that draws us in on Instagram is creative feeds! We love to see how some feeds feature images that shows some real thought and styling put into it. Piluro by Pilar Franco Borrell is one such person and we are just loving it! Definitely some insta-inspo for everyone here.

#BinstaGood

.. Follow Piluro on instagram
.. Bloesem and Zara S.  on instagram

Carmen Von Trueba

Early last year, we started seeing alot of amazing poster and prints online and we even shared one such collection. Remember the Veggie collection by Von Trueba? Yes the ones with the amazing leaves that have been a hit everywhere.. people are really loving the leaves nowadays. Of course flowers are classic but leaves are a nice change.. but before we get too carried away.. we thought we'd introduce you to the young talent behind the Von Trueba prints, Carmen. 

Hi Carmen, tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Murcia (Spain), and after years drawing and traveling I decided that Architecture could be my thing. I graduated from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, where I also won awards and prizes for design, art, and innovation.

Nowadays I am based in London, and have several platforms where I show my designs (inspired by geometry and materials), and illustrations.

Could you share with us 3 of your favourite spots in your city?

 My favourite spots in London are: Shoreditch, Southbank and Kensington gardens.

Are there any design hangouts or places you can go to meet other creates where you live?

Here in London it is rare not to always have something to do or somewhere to go to. You have to be tuned in because there is always something going on, sometimes is stressful because I dont want to miss anything.

More about Carmen after the cut..

What is one important lesson you have learnt on your creative journey?

Trust yourself, at the end, everything that comes out from you in a natural way is good, you have to trust, and do not ever think about whether people are going to like it.

Is there a piece of advice you would share with budding designers who are still in school or thinking of quiting their day job?

The same as I told you before. Everyone has something to offer, and that is the best part. Trust your feelings and your creations, let them be. 

Do you remember the moment you decided you wanted to do what you are doing now?

Not really. I think I have always loved to "create". No matter if it is a building, a print or a store window. Design has always driven me happy.

Where do you find inspiration? Perhaps a favourite blog or website?

 I find inspiration in nature, in geometric forms, pure forms. I love nordic design, textures.

Finish this sentence -- "if i could, i would..."

If I could, I would ALWAYS.

All images courtesy of Von Trueba.

.. Von Trueba

Back from Amsterdam

After a whirlwind 1o day trip to Amsterdam I am home! Definitely an unforgettable trip... not only was it my first time in Europe, it was also our first Bloesem Class that has taken place outside of Singapore. 

Together with Trisha Toh (our #instafood teacher), I spent 4 days meeting amazing students (who feel more like friends now) and sharing the joy of food styling and photography.. and whenever we were not teaching, we were exploring hotspots around town.. so look forward to some posts on that! We had to also visit cafes of course, treats for me and coffee for Trisha. 

So here are some snaps I thought I'd share of the trip... hopefully not giving away too much.. just a hint of what's to come..

Xo, Zara 

 

Yummy Stach chocolate eggs that were part of our Bloesem class goody bag. Have you tried poppy seeds in chocolate? They're delicious!

Just walking around town.. exploring..

Catering for the class was done by the 2 ladies behind Cousine - they're cousins so Cousine... get it? It's so smart, just love the name.

Shop stops to come.. this city is full of amazing shops. Everyone we met had their own list of reccomendations, which was incredibly helpful but it also met feeling slightly disappointed that we could not squeeze in everything on the list, but I think we ended up pretty much covering most of the spots.

And I'll end this off with this cutie who stole my heart..

All images by Zara Salahuddin