Quality of Life in the Metropolis

	The main entrance

For decades dreams were recorded on celluloid on the grounds of the former UFA-Film Copy Center here in southern Berlin. Shortly before the planned demolition of the buildings the "second life of the ufa", began - a one-of-a-kind European project combining living and working - the ufaFabrik Berlin, an International Center for Culture and Ecology.

Activities of the 30 residents and over 160 co-workers are based on the vision of a meaningful integration of the areas of living and working with culture, creativity and community.

New and uncommon ideas have been implemented at the ufaFabrik over the past 30years, involving ecology and sustainable development, the testing of concepts for producing culture and social and neighborhood work.


The Communication Center ufaFabrik

An attractive meeting place through all seasons and for people of all ages, nationalities and professions.

The International Culture Center offers space for performing contemporary culture. There are performances by international artists, festivals, in-house productions, comedy, cabaret, dance, world music, children’s programs and professional theatre presentations. Perfoming artists and others are invited to stay in the ufaFabrik Guest House. Available are two theatre spaces, multiple practice studios and an outdoor covered-stage in summer.

An in-house Organic Bakery and Confectionery provide breads, cakes and pastries and an extensive assortment of sustainable products are available from the ufaFabrik Natural Foods Store.

In the center of the 18,566 m² urban village is the Café Olé. Every day you can experience the adventurous transformation from a relaxed breakfast café into a romantic night bar for the culture seekers wanting to enjoy another drink following the cultural peformance.

ufaCircus performers train in the practice studios, as does the ufaFabrik’s own samba group Terra Brasilis, in preparation for performances that take them across Europe.

The Children’s Circus School is committed to the development of talented young performers. Former students, themselves internationally recognized artists, teach hopeful young artists.

The Neighborhood and Self-Help Center NUSZ, provides encouragement and assistance in cultural as well as social, health and family matters. Programs include family care services, a day-care center and the school station “Wonder Island.” There are regularly markets and celebrations going on for the local community and others.
A considerable range of Workshops with opportunities for young and old help people to remain active whether as athletes, musicians, dancers or circus artists.

Familiar house and farm animals are living at the professionally supervised Children’s Farm, where kids are invited to get to know them, feed them, clean out their stalls and go for a ride.

Through a great variety of Ecology Projects from the green roofs to the rain water system and decentral energy production , the grounds of the ufaFabrik remain a green oasis within the metropolis. Seminars, tours and workshops are offered on a regular basis for interested visitors.

The offerings of the ufaFabrik change and develop from year to year. New creative plans emerge every year and find their way to the stage, the community and the events calendar. What remains stable are the cooperative ufaFabrik stuctures and an attention to the needs of the guests. It is the residents, co-workers and visitors that shape the activities of the ufaFabrik. They come from the neighborhood, from Berlin and from around the world.

Internationally, the ufaFabrik enjoys considerable recognition as a leading demonstration in the areas of culture, community and ecology. The ufaFabrik Berlin is a living example of the possibilities that exist for creating attractive, socially and ecologically just ways of living in a metropolis.