Jewish Museum Berlin: Discovering the Academy
I recently discovered that the Jewish Museum Berlin has an additional 'wing' directly across the street. I had seen it before but never ventured in somehow. It's called the Academy and it's fantastic.
For context, here's looking back to the main museum:
The Academy was very impressive! It is really an incredible resource. Apparently, architect of the main museum building Daniel Libeskind had in mind to create three cubes: The Saal or hall for events, the Library, and the Diaspora Garden. The first is mostly for special events but the latter two are free and open to the public and very worthwhile!
Entering this interesting space is already a satisfying experience. The architecture is angular but still inviting. The light is eye-catching and enters through small and large spaces. The fonts in the signage are also very classic and well designed.
Here we can see into the library, which if I understand correctly is open to the public.
The Diaspora Garden made a big impression on me. It is built inside of Berlin's old flower market, so the roof is incredibly lofty. This Garden is used as a reflective space and also a teaching forum. There are special workshops held here (that I now hope to attend) as well as a themed plantings.
For example, biblically-referenced plants like figs, and the oldest of plants like ferns are growing side by side with the famous plant called "The Wandering Jew." All of these plants live outside of their traditional climates, with sort of suspended roots as they are not planted in the ground. This gives a living metaphor to the term diaspora meaning: 'the dispersion or spread of any people from their original homeland.'
I was intrigued by the drawings I saw on the tables. This is right up my alley as an illustrator of nature...I hope to find out more about what goes on here. Here is a play on words: Fern spores and Diaspora. :)
Here is the Wandering Jew. I've seen this plant a lot in California.
The visit left me very curious about what other hidden gems the museum has in store...
More information about the Academy can be found here:
http://www.jmberlin.de/main/EN/04-About-The-Museum/01-Architecture/03a-academy.php
For context, here's looking back to the main museum:
The Academy was very impressive! It is really an incredible resource. Apparently, architect of the main museum building Daniel Libeskind had in mind to create three cubes: The Saal or hall for events, the Library, and the Diaspora Garden. The first is mostly for special events but the latter two are free and open to the public and very worthwhile!
Entering this interesting space is already a satisfying experience. The architecture is angular but still inviting. The light is eye-catching and enters through small and large spaces. The fonts in the signage are also very classic and well designed.
Here we can see into the library, which if I understand correctly is open to the public.
The Diaspora Garden made a big impression on me. It is built inside of Berlin's old flower market, so the roof is incredibly lofty. This Garden is used as a reflective space and also a teaching forum. There are special workshops held here (that I now hope to attend) as well as a themed plantings.
For example, biblically-referenced plants like figs, and the oldest of plants like ferns are growing side by side with the famous plant called "The Wandering Jew." All of these plants live outside of their traditional climates, with sort of suspended roots as they are not planted in the ground. This gives a living metaphor to the term diaspora meaning: 'the dispersion or spread of any people from their original homeland.'
I was intrigued by the drawings I saw on the tables. This is right up my alley as an illustrator of nature...I hope to find out more about what goes on here. Here is a play on words: Fern spores and Diaspora. :)
The visit left me very curious about what other hidden gems the museum has in store...
More information about the Academy can be found here:
http://www.jmberlin.de/main/EN/04-About-The-Museum/01-Architecture/03a-academy.php
Happy to see another post from Drawn to Berlin. Fascinating. Such a treasure, the Academy.
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