Location: Berlin, Germany
Year: 2024
Architects: Two-Fold
Photography by: Schnepp Renou
UVU’s Berlin Marathon Pop-Up: A Dialogue Between Running and Berlin’s Architectural Heritage.
In an inspired fusion of sport, fashion, and architecture, UVU has unveiled a striking new pop-up space in Berlin, designed by London-based studio, Two-Fold. Coinciding with the city’s iconic 50th Berlin Marathon, the pop-up makes a bold statement by occupying one of the most revered modernist spaces in the city — the former home of renowned German architect Arno Brandlhuber.
Known for pushing the boundaries of technical sportswear and cultural influence, UVU’s collaboration with Two-Fold reflects a shared ethos of design elegance and an ongoing effort to create visually engaging and highly functional retail environments.
This edition of their latest pop-up comes set in Arno Brandlhuber’s former home, a touchstone in the Berlin architectural landscape, celebrated for its exposed concrete, rough-hewn surfaces, and avant-garde approach to spatial design, now adopted into Anti-Space, a 360-degree holistic wellness studio. Two-Fold honours the building’s legacy, using its raw, unfinished quality as both a canvas and a framework. The pop-up retains the starkness of Brandlhuber’s original design, with exposed ceilings and structural elements left untouched, allowing the space’s original materiality to shine. UVU’s exclusively designed Berlin Marathon vests are displayed against a diffused light backdrop in a nod to Brandlhuber’s iconic wardrobe display - eschewing excess for the purity of silhouette, colour, and form. The contrasting blue plinths against the raw, industrial concrete canvas that characterizes Brandlhuber’s iconic structure create a seamless dialogue between existing and proposed, where architecture and brand identity come together in an immersive experience tailored to the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Marathon.
The collaboration between UVU, Two-Fold, and Anti-Space against the backdrop of Arno Brandlhuber’s architectural legacy reflects a deep understanding of Berlin’s unique cultural fabric. The pop-up doesn’t just serve as a retail space but stands as a testament to the city’s status as a global hub for innovation, art, and athleticism. It speaks to an audience that appreciates not only performance wear but also the intellectual rigor and aesthetic sophistication that defines Berlin’s architectural scene. Text description by the architects.
