Magazine B – Issue 43 (Berlin)

Magazine B Issue 43 (Berlin) is available now on loremnotipsum.com. Much like the fall of the Berlin Wall— the defining symbol of the thaw of the Cold War— Berlin is a city where borders are crossed and prejudices are torn down. Treading across and blurring perimeters of commerce and art, high culture and low culture, the traditional and the modern, the city heartily welcomes peoples and cultures of all kinds. Turkish street food alongside a fine dining restaurant run by a gangster-turned-Michelin star chef; an art gallery nestled in a WWII bunker and an airport transformed into a park— these are just a few examples of the spirit of diversity that prevail throughout the city of Berlin.

Magazine B Issue 43 looks into the city of Berlin as a brand. We suspect that many of our readers will be curious as to why a brand documentary magazine decided to feature a city and why that city happened to be Berlin. Well, from its very beginnings, B has aimed to help readers broaden their perspective on brands. As such, rather than pigeonholing what constitutes a ‘brand’ to just consumer products, we believe that physical spaces and people are just as deserving of the term. Our January/February issue on Berlin is a natural continuation of this belief.

Much like the thaw of the Cold War and the ensuing fall of the Berlin wall, Berlin is a city where borders are crossed and prejudices are knocked down. This is a city that treads across and blurs the perimeters of commerce and art, high culture and low culture, the traditional and the modern; a city that embraces people and cultures of all spectrums. Take, for instance, Turkish street food alongside a fine-dining restaurant run by a gang member-turned-Michelin star chef, an art gallery behind the walls of a WWII bunker, and an airport converted into a park. There is a palpable spirit of diversity that permeates Berlin, and its distinct ambience remains unparalleled in any of the world’s cities.

A city cannot be built solely on the wishes and whims of a select few. We do not deny that governments and mega-corporations play a significant role in the development of a city, but we also believe that it’s the hopes, dreams, and ideals of many individuals that ultimately make up the fabric of a community, and that such communities go on to form cities. For the Berlin issue, we tried to avoid any single overarching theme or viewpoint. Rather, we opted to assemble a multi-faceted patchwork of people, spaces, and objects that we deemed noteworthy, and through it, construct a single evocative image of Berlin. We believe that this body of elements will reveal the city of Berlin as B sees it.

Magazine B is an ad-less monthly publication that introduces one well-balanced brand unearthed from around the globe in each issue. Between its covers, Magazine B not only shares untold stories behind the brand but also its sentiment and culture that any readers interested in brand marketing and management can leaf through with ease. Magazine B attempts to discover truly good brands from today’s market where countless brand-named products are overflowing. Magazine B pursues its quest for true value of a printed medium by becoming a magazine that would be worth possessing, not affected by advertisements since it receives no financial support from the brand, and maintains a unique and independent perspective which is increasingly disappearing due to overflowing information mingled among different media outlets.

Magazine B dedicates each issue to the story of one specific brand, which is one of the well-balanced brands that JOH. discovers from around the world based on four standards: beauty, practicality, price, and philosophy. And each issue is packed with B’s unique insights and in-depth analysis. Magazine B will continue to search brands that it pursues to introduce cover-to-cover, such as Swiss recycled bag manufacturer Freitag and Japanese camping gear maker Snow Peak.

Content: Magazine B – Issue 43 (Berlin)

AREA 1 – MITTE
At the center of Berlin’s tourist attractions, each street has its own distinct characteristics

CREATORS
Multinational creators are building up a distinctive Berlin culture in their own unique ways

AREA 2 – PRENZLAUER BERG
An area where you can find places that are small and unique

AREA 3 – KREUZBERG
The diversity of Berlin’s cultural scene continues to evolve

AREA 4 – NEUKÖLLN
A carefree neighborhood that is driven by the spirit of artists

AREA 5 – TIERGARTEN
A contemporary commercial district has formed around parks and zoos

SOUVENIR
Items that inhabit the essence of Berlin

BRAND SCENE
Stores for international brands that reflect the unique local culture and aesthetic

TRANSPORTATION
User’s guide for Berlin’s public transit system

AREA 6 – CHARLOTTENBURG
A cultured borough that encapsulates the olden glory of Western Europe

AREA 7 – ELSEWHERE
Other areas that reveal the hidden facets of Berlin

MAP
Places where a traveler can enjoy both familiarity and convenience

REFERENCES
Books that introduce Berlin from different perspectives

Details

240 x 170 mm