Our Story

What drives us

Co-shapers behind C*SPACE are driven by a passion for creatively connecting inspired individuals, meaningful ideas, and new potential. With C*SPACE, this passion has manifested in a physical space that reflects a collaboratively evolving vision:

“Imagine…
An abundance of open spaces in Pankow, Berlin, Europe and beyond. Where people with diverse backgrounds gather to co-create communities of common ground, with open hearts and open minds, finding solutions as much as joy for and amidst the challenges of our times.
Together, in these spaces, we courageously prototype creative and regenerative ways of working, learning, leading, and being.“

How it started

The co-founders and hosts of C*SPACE are Jan Siefke, photographer, and Katja Hellkötter, facilitator and transcultural cooperation professional. Before moving to Berlin and after growing up in small towns in Germany, they lived in France, India, Chile, Hongkong and Shanghai, accumulating over 16 years of international experience. We asked Katja and Jan a few questions about their journey of starting and running C*SPACE.

Why did you start C*SPACE?

Katja: My passion has always been to create spaces where people and ideas can thrive across boundaries. I began my journey as self-employed with the agency CONSTELLATIONS, where we focused on designing and facilitating meaningful interactions for sustainable futures. As we looked for unique locations for our client workshops, I saw a place as a key design element and naturally started dreaming of creating “my own” special place.

Jan: Alongside my identity as a photographer, I’m an urban flâneur at heart. I’ve always loved exploring cities, discovering interesting spots and their cultural heritage. When we encountered the former furniture factory “Bruno Springer,” built in 1895 in Berlin Weißensee, I was immediately captivated by the place and inspired to do something creative within the space and its neighborhood.

What was it like at the beginning? What were the first steps you took?

Katja: Initially, we used the studio on the first floor for our projects—my CONSTELLATIONS consulting work, the CITYMAKERS Global Village gatherings, and Jan’s photography.

Jan: When our architect neighbors left the third floor, we jumped at the chance to rent it, as it aligned with our vision of a studio for co-working and collaborative projects.

Katja: I was a bit concerned about the increased costs, but remembered a quote from a social entrepreneur friend in Shanghai: “Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunities regardless of the resources currently under control.” With that in mind, we courageously signed the rental contract. A month later, the pandemic hit. Yet, we soon adopted the mindset of “staying open while not opened,” and unpredicted events happened

Jan: Two artists from Beijing, Qian Geng and Ziheng, found themselves stranded here, and we offered them shelter. After two weeks, they asked if they could write something on the wall. We said yes, and then the most stunning calligraphic art work appeared, including the ‘1000 Character Classic’ across two walls.

Katja: This artwork resonated deeply with visitors, sparking interest and inspiring new artistic creations. It led us to develop the ‘Pop-Up Teahouse Berlin’ cultural project: This initiative helped us not just survive but thrive during the pandemic.

What do you enjoy most about your roles as space creators, and what challenges have you faced? Was there anything unexpected along the way?

Katja: I love aesthetics and the beauty of space. Each day, I enjoy ‘making the place’ and then witnessing how people appreciate the atmosphere. The biggest challenge has been establishing a sustainable business model amidst fluctuating project funding, unstable event markets, and the challenge of translating societal value into economic sustainability.

Jan: I’ve discovered my passion for hosting. I love welcoming groups for workshops and ensuring they feel comfortable. The greatest challenge: at times it could feel like more than a full-time job. But we’re on a promising path, developing a new model for shared roles within our community.

C*SPACE has been around since 2015. What have you achieved that you hoped for, and what do you still dream of accomplishing?

Katja: I’m grateful for the many people who have embraced C*SPACE over the years: team members, partners and clients who co-created projects and booked our space, as well as our co-workers. Currently, I’m particularly inspired to connect with creative hubs across Europe, learning together and advocating for “third spaces” as essential for social inclusion, non-formal education, and innovation.

Jan: We’ve created an open space that brings together long-time residents—some who have lived here for over 50 years—with newcomers to Berlin from diverse global backgrounds. My hope is to continue building bridges and a positive global-local community and to develop a sustainable model for this kind of societal engagement. Above all, my dream is to never lose our sense of joy, fun, and playfulness, no matter what challenges we may face!

How it evolves

At the heart of C*SPACE management is a dedicated small core team, complemented by freelancers who join on a project basis. Additionally, we are increasingly creating individualized partnership models with community members who identify with the C*SPACE vision, matching their interests and expertise with the roles needed for hosting and nurturing C*SPACE. Our aim is to further “grow” C*SPACE by the principles of resonance and collaboration. While we actively curate opportunities, we also embrace the potential for new partnerships to emerge organically.