Enjoying a cup of coffee in Berlin doesn’t automatically mean sitting in an ordinary café. For example, you can make yourself comfortable in a former Shell gas station from the 1950s. And what else is there, you ask? Even in Berlin’s first crematorium, coffee is now served, among other things, and you can take a seat in a unique atmosphere. MARS is located at Gerichtstraße 35 in Berlin-Wedding and is the in-house restaurant of the silent green Kulturquartier.
The history of this site goes back a long way. As early as 1828, a municipal cemetery was established on the grounds, which remained in use until 1879. Between 1909 and 1910, an urn hall was built there according to plans by architect William Müller; it was designed from the outset to be expanded into a crematorium at a later date. After the legal requirements for cremation were established in Prussia in 1911, two cremation furnaces were added. In 1912, Berlin’s first crematorium finally began operations.
The architectural centerpiece of the complex is the former 17-meter-high funeral hall. It features an octagonal floor plan and a striking pyramid-shaped mansard roof. Columbaria , where urns were stored, were built around the equally octagonal inner courtyard . Historic columbaria are also located on several levels within the former funeral hall. Although the building was originally constructed for funerals, its architecture was designed to be largely secular. To this day, numerous historic details can be discovered. These include stone griffins, flame-shaped bowls on the wrought-iron gates, and a snake in the terrazzo floor, which symbolizes transformation.
After several renovations and expansions, the crematorium ceased operations at the end of 2002 . The complex then stood vacant for a time. Later, the concept for today’s silent green Kulturquartier was selected for the site. Beginning in 2013, the historically protected building complex was renovated and carefully converted for its new cultural use.
Today, silent green spans approximately 6,000 square meters and serves as a cultural quarter for music, film, art, and creative enterprises. The former funeral hall is now used as the Kuppelhalle for concerts, readings, and film screenings, among other events. In addition , an underground concrete hall covering approximately 1,600 square meters was built , which is used for exhibitions, events, and larger productions .
Today , MARS is situated in the heart of this historic complex , serving as the culinary centerpiece of the Kulturquartier. During the week, you can have lunch here, enjoy coffee later in the day, and order light meals and drinks in the evening. Brunch is also offered on weekends. The regular menu is complemented by special dinner events and rotating culinary concepts.
The kitchen focuses primarily on fresh, seasonal, and regional ingredients. Sustainability also plays an important role. Among other things, the kitchen uses organic products, local freshwater fish, and regional game. Particularly unique is the restaurant’s own rooftop garden, where herbs and vegetables are grown that are then used in the MARS kitchen.
