Eat. Drink. Shop. Stroll. 10 years of BIKINI BERLIN!

Berlin, 3 September 2024 – Happy birthday BIKINI BERLIN! Ten years ago, a very special place in the heart of the City West fitted seamlessly into Berlin’s cityscape – an urban oasis that harmoniously combines shopping culture and nature thanks to its proximity to Berlin Zoo and leafy rooftop terrace. Together with the Zoo Palast  cinema, Huthmacher-Haus high-rise and 25hours Hotel , the BIKINI BERLIN building complex forms a unique ensemble that is so much more than a regular shopping mall. And now the time has come to celebrate the success, creativity and unconventional ideas of this past decade in a fitting way!

Ever since it first opened its doors on 3 April 2014, BIKINI BERLIN has played a key role in the transformation of the City West and created a green oasis that invites locals as well as tourists to shop, stroll and indulge in culinary delights. But how did this unique concept for Germany’s first concept shopping mall come about?

Let’s take a look back:

2010-2013: Laying of the foundation stone and revitalisation
Bayerische Hausbau took on the extensive revitalisation of the historical ‘Zentrum am Zoo’ complex. With a mix of listed architecture and modern elements, BIKINI BERLIN soon became what it is today: an innovative, vibrant and, above all, sustainable part of Berlin’s urban history.

2014: Opening and first steps
BIKINI BERLIN officially opened its doors on 3 April 2014. Awaiting the visitors was a concept shopping mall that heralded a new era of shopping with its pop-up boxes, carefully curated stores and culinary highlights. In particular, the 7,000 m² rooftop terrace, also known as the ‘green lung’ of the City West, quickly became a popular sanctuary for everyone who wants to experience nature and urban flair at the same time.

2015: FIABCI Prix d’Excellence architecture award & LEED GOLD certification
The revitalisation of the BIKINI BERLIN building complex was recognised internationally and awarded with the World Silver Award in the ‘Heritage’ category, as well as with the building classification programme LEED GOLD.

2017: Opening of the 808 club Every Friday and Saturday night, clubbers flock to BIKINI BERLIN, to the dance floor of 808. The name of the exclusive club is a nod to the legendary drum machine Roland TR 808. Located right next to the 25hours Hotel, the sleek club is spread over a large area of 500 m² and offers its guests international bookings of the highest level. Neon elements, such as the eye-catching neon sign at the entrance, define the entire interior design and give 808 its distinctive vibe.

2018: Opening of KANTINI The new KANTINI food court brought culinary diversity and international flair to the mall. Ever since then, KANTINI has established itself as a hotspot for foodies and culinary enthusiasts. From

2019: Slow shopping movement
BIKINI BERLIN introduced the term ‘slow shopping’ – in keeping with the ideals of slowing down, casually strolling, sustainability and indulgence. The concept shopping mall is a green oasis in the heart of the City West that not only invites visitors to shop and dine, but also hang out and relax – in front of the large panoramic window facing the zoo’s monkey enclosure, for example, or by admiring an art installation.

Fashion collaborations and the BIKINI BERLIN Collectable
BIKINI BERLIN hasn’t only made its mark as a shopping destination over the last few years, but also as a platform for fashion creativity. Cooperations with renowned designers such as William Fan, Esther Perbandt and Marcel Ostertag have resulted in exclusive ‘Collectables’ – from the ‘Birthday Bag’ to the current capsule collection with Marcel Ostertag. These limited designer pieces reflect the innovative and urban style that sets BIKINI BERLIN apart.

Art and culture
Spotlight on art Art and culture have played a central role in BIKINI BERLIN from the beginning. The concept shopping mall has established itself as a creative hotspot where impressive exhibitions and installations are shown on a regular basis. From the brightly coloured origami installation by Mademoiselle Maurice to the floral ‘Garden’ installation by British artist Rebecca Louise Law or the Christmas installations by Spanish artist Coco Capitán and Berlin-based painter Isis Maria to the interactive art projects by artists from Berlin’s creative scene – the boundaries between shopping and art are blurred, resulting in a unique experience. BIKINI BERLIN has organised a wide range of art installations and exhibitions in the past ten years, wowing visitors from all over the world.

A stage for Berlin
As a vibrant and versatile location, BIKINI BERLIN has also played host to countless high-profile events over the years. From the party to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the IFA trade show to the German Acting Award and PAPER POSITIONS, or the House of Food as part of the annual Berlin Food Week to the 202030 Berlin Fashion Summit – you can count on BIKINI BERLIN to provide the perfect backdrop for events combining culture, technology, fashion and sustainability. The variety of the events underlines BIKINI BERLIN’s role as a central meeting place for creative minds and visionary projects.

2024: 10 years of BIKINI BERLIN 
A decade full of successes and innovations. These days, BIKINI BERLIN is home to 15 pop-up boxes offering everything from fashion and food to art and culture. In the future, visitors can look forward to discovering new, interesting shops as new tenants set up shop. But one thing has stayed the same, even after 10 years: BIKINI BERLIN brings together shopping, art, culture and culinary delights, creating a ‘third place’ that inspires with every visit.

Birthday celebrations: It goes without saying that BIKINI BERLIN won’t be letting this milestone birthday go by without celebrating. To mark its 10th anniversary, BIKINI BERLIN has created an exclusively designed, high-quality and fairly produced candle in collaboration with Hamburg concept store not the girl who misses much. It will be available in the birthday pop-up from 6 September until 5 October when you spend a minimum of €10, as long as stocks last.

Awaiting visitors from 7 September 2024 is a special birthday activity: The free candle holder workshop taking place over four weekends not only brings together creative minds but will also ensure that this special occasion is celebrated in atmospheric candlelight! The BIKINI BERIN photo booths will be available to use for free from Thursday to Saturdays and on our Sunday Shopping day, 8 September 2024, for you to take your own souvenir snapshots. And visitors will also be in with a chance of winning favourite pieces from the BIKINI BERLIN stores and pop-up boxes in a tombola. Let’s come together to celebrate the past and also look ahead to the future!

10 years of BIKINI BERLIN in numbers
But BIKINI BERLIN isn’t just about shopping and indulging – the figures also speak for themselves.

In the pop-up boxes, for example, there has been a lot of coming and going over the past 10 years. Over 276 tenants have presented their creative concepts in the pop-up boxes in the past decade – ranging from hip start-ups to more established labels. Many new ideas and concepts started life at BIKINI BERLIN.

And there was certainly no shortage of art and culture either! With more than 360 art installations, exhibitions and creative cooperations – from limited gift-wrapping paper to impressive art projects – BIKINI BERLIN has transformed itself into a real stage for art. External exhibition and initiatives have also been hosted in the versatile event space, complementing the shopping experience with cultural highlights and making the location a lively meeting place for art enthusiasts and creatives.

Timeline – Milestones from 10 years of BIKINI BERLIN
2010-2013: Revitalisation of the historical ‘Zentrum am Zoo’ 3 April 2014: Official opening of BIKINI BERLIN
2015: Awarded with the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence World Silver Award & LEED GOLD certification 2017: Opening of the 808 club
2018: Opening of KANTINI From
2019: Start of the slow shopping movement Fashion and art since 2018: Exclusive collaborations and impressive installations Third-party events: Host of IFA, 202030 Fashion Summit and more
2024: 10 years of BIKINI BERLIN – reason to celebrate!

The free candle holder workshops will be taking place on the following dates: Saturday, 7 September 2024 Sunday 8, September 2024 Saturday, 21 September 2024 Saturday, 28 September 2024 from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm

Free use of our photo booths Thursdays to Saturdays and on our Sunday shopping day on 8 September 2024

Our birthday pop-up will be open on: Thursdays and Fridays from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Saturdays from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm and on our Sunday shopping day on 8 September 2024 from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm

All details about our anniversary can also be found on the BIKINI BERLIN website at: www.bikiniberlin.de/jubilaeum