Why I Opened a Shop in the Heart of Berlin – in a Time When Everything Happens Online
Why open a shop?
Especially now.
In times when more stores are closing than opening.
When almost everything seems to happen online – faster, easier, more efficiently.
Maybe because some things simply can’t be clicked.
Holding a product in your hands.
Feeling its weight. Touching its surface.
Looking into a workshop and seeing how something is made.
Having a conversation that’s open – not automated.
I’ve experienced all of that before – back when I rented the back room of a concept store in Kreuzberg.
Studio in the back, small storefront in the front.
What started as a temporary solution turned into a quiet experiment:
What happens when people don’t just see things – but experience them?
The answer: it changes everything.
The next step: a space of my own
After three years in Kreuzberg, it became clear – I wanted more.
More calm. More depth. More independence.
Now I’ve found it:
Heinrich-Roller-Straße 9 in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg.
A space that is both workshop and store.
The kiln and glaze lab are in the back. I model in the front.
In between: shelves, daylight, ceramic pieces.
A space that is visible – and open.
On trust, marketing – and a glowing hairbrush
Maybe you’ve experienced this too:
An online product that promises everything. Slick design, super practical, a game changer.
In my case, it was a cordless hairbrush – anti-frizz, self-cleaning, massaging, glowing.
I bought it. Tested it. Disappointed.
What remained was a piece of e-waste I had to throw out. A promise that never held up.
I’m not saying all online products are like this.
But let’s be honest:
There’s often a gap between what’s promised – and what actually stays.
In a store, that gap becomes smaller.
You can see how something is made.
You can ask questions. Hold it. Turn it.
You can feel whether it suits you – or not.
Why I opened this space
Because I believe design deserves to be experienced.
Not just as a picture – but as a moment of connection.
The objects I create at OBAstudios are made for everyday life.
They’re here to help. To bring joy.
To last longer than any trend or campaign.
They’re made with care – and invite the same attention in return.
This shop is a space where objects are allowed to speak back.
Without filters. Without pressure.
A place for what stays.
What you’ll find in the store
Functional ceramic design by OBAstudios – for your bathroom, kitchen, and everyday use
One-of-a-kind pieces & vases from Atelier von Ehren
Ceramics workshops & courses – for those who want to shape things with their hands
A small, carefully curated selection – minimal, useful, and timeless
📍 Heinrich-Roller-Straße 9, 10405 Berlin
🕙 Fridays & Saturdays, 12–6 pm
What I hope for
I hope this space creates connection:
Between people. Between objects.
Between what we hold – and what we truly want to keep.
I hope you won’t just choose a product –
but connect with it.
Because it fits. Because it serves.
Because it does something for you.
And I hope you’ll simply stop by.
With questions. With curiosity. Or just because.
Maybe just to pause.
Maybe to fall in love with a soap dish.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Barbara