In Dahlem, architect John Pawson has carved out a space from nature and offered an elegant, minimalist structure in exchange. Based in London, he is a master craftsman whose work bears a distinctive signature all his own.

With Galerie Bastian on Taylorstraße, Pawson has achieved yet another masterwork in minimalist restraint. The modestly scaled building—just 250 m² in footprint—forms a perfect rectangular volume punctuated by soaring windows. At 12.5 x 20 metres, it might seem contained, yet the 5.60-metre ceiling height transforms it into an impressive exhibition space. Though situated near the busy Clayallee and its persistent traffic hum, the interior immediately transports you elsewhere. As with all Pawson's creations, entering this space evokes something almost reverent—though here, that feeling inhabits a refined, intimate gallery.

The client is the Berlin-based Bastian family, whose gallery of the same name has been directed by Heiner Bastian's son, Dr. Aeneas Bastian, since 2016. The space functions as both exhibition and sales venue—welcoming to all visitors. "Light is one of the eternal preoccupations of architecture," Pawson reflects, positioning light as central to his creative vision. At Galerie Bastian, light engages in an intimate dialogue with the surrounding park and its ancient, undisturbed trees. Regardless of the conditions outside, natural light becomes part of the interior experience—casting golden warmth on bright days or deep shadows across the walls in winter. Nature isn't merely considered; it's woven into the building's very fabric. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows are framed in oak, while a light shaft draws illumination down into the equally spacious basement, housing offices, a kitchenette, and facilities. Below ground, ceilings reach a more modest 2.80 metres. Sandstone facades shimmer with subtle hints of pale yellow, while the exhibition space is finished with natural stone and offices feature wooden floors.

Why locate here, seemingly at the city's edge? Don't be fooled: Dahlem/Zehlendorf is a cultural hub. The Allied Museum sits practically next door, alongside the Brücke Museum and Haus am Waldsee. Galerie Bastian showcases 20th and 21st-century art—from the canonical works of Warhol, Rauschenberg, Beuys, Twombly, and Kiefer,
among many others.

www.johnpawson.com
www.bastian-gallery.com

All images:

Courtesy Galerie Bastian, Berlin

(Featured in CUBE Berlin 01|24)