A small wooden coffee stand named Café Leo with outdoor seating, trees without leaves, and a person sitting outside on a cloudy day. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIKE prize for Social Intervention

Café Leo

The pavilion of Café Leo is designed for WendePunkt, a Berlin wide active charity that focuses on social projects with a heavy presence locally.  It serves coffee, lunch, and light snacks while functioning as a hub for social work, including multilingual support for immigrants, family assistance, a knitting club, and other community activities. The pavilion’s design features continuous glazing and a light wooden frame made of pale pink-tinted larch, seamlessly blending with the plaza and honoring the nearby listed Schinkel church.  The pavilion embodies WendePunkt's commitment to social projects, enriching plaza life by providing an inclusive space for all.

A small, wooden cafe or kiosk with large glass windows, situated on a city street surrounded by bare trees and lampposts. The cafe appears to be lit from inside, with a few chairs visible inside. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Awa
Inside a light-colored coffee shop with large windows, a woman in a pink hoodie and white beanie stands near the sink, with menu boards on the wall and coffee equipment on the counter. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIK
Bright interior space with large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a snowy, tree-lined street. There is a small desk with a vase of tulips, a speaker, and a vintage microphone. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIKE pri
A wooden cafe with a sign that reads "Café Leo" on a snowy day, with outdoor seating and trees in the background. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIKE prize for Social Intervention
People sitting on chairs outside a wooden cafe with large windows, in an urban park in winter. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIKE prize for Social Intervention
A group of men sitting and standing around a small outdoor café, with some holding drinks, in an urban setting with trees and multi-story buildings in the background. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIKE prize for Social
A small, modern wooden pavilion with glass walls and green chairs in an urban park, surrounded by trees and people sitting, standing, and walking nearby. Café Leo on Leopoldplatz, Berlin, Wedding, EU Mies Award, BDA NIKE prize for Social Intervention

Leopoldplatz is undoubtedly the heart of Wedding, a Berlin working-class district, retaining its status as one of the rougher and less affluent areas of the German capital since its 19th-century construction.  The inception of Café Leo dates back to 2009, a response to the escalating issues of drug use, alcoholism, and conflicts in the square.  As part of a prevention concept, the local council introduced a food point to deter socially unacceptable behavior, aiming to increase pedestrian activity and diversify visitors.  The goal was never displacement but moderation and integration, bridging users with families and other visitors frequenting the square's markets and fairs.

WendePunkt, a Berlin-wide charity, won a bid in 2021 to operate the café.  Beyond food, it sought to create a space that catered to a diverse demographic, offering additional services like multilingual support for immigrants, family assistance, and social activities like a knitting club, fostering a sense of inclusivity and community engagement.

The pavilion's design seamlessly blends with the square, with generous glazing for unobstructed views across the square, ensures accessibility from both sides.  On the exterior, light larch wood with a pale pink tint pays homage to the listed red bricks of Schinkel’s church next door.  Bespoke shutters offer protection against vandalism at night.  Inside, cobblestone flooring extends seamlessly in from the exterior and integrated storage ensure functionality. It accommodates a small bar and kitchen area to prepare hot drinks and serve meals produced off site. The remaining space provides limited seating for guests, but can also be used for the additional services and social activities, maintaining a connection to vibrant square life.

Awards :

2026 EU Mies Awards - 2026 Nominee
2025 Nike für soziales Engagement - Architekturpreis des Bundes Deutscher Architekten (BDA)
2024 BDA Preis Berlin - First Prize
2024 DAM Preis für Architektur - Shortlist
2024 Dezeen Small Building Award - Longlist

Project Data :

Location : Berlin, Germany
Duration :  2022 - 2023
Area (m2) : 40 m2
Client : WendePunkt gGmbH
Engineer : ZRS Ingenieure
Constructor : SchneiderworX
Photographer : Ignacio Bandera
Bryn Donkersloot