As you might know, there have been some quite serious delays in the opening of the new Circus Apartments. The reasons for this lie with problems on the construction site, which meant a continual delay in the handover of the building to the owner and subsequently to us. This has reached the point now where no guarantees can be made of a final handover date for the building, and thus we cannot make a concrete announcement as to the opening date of the apartments.
This is now the third major construction or reconstruction project we have been involved with following the hostel and hotel, and it is clear in our experiences with all three houses that problems and delays are part of the process. It is not pleasant, but our experience with the other two houses also shows that over time these problems fade into memory, and that it is more important that structures are right and that we have a basis upon which to base the next twenty years of operations than to become overly stressed about delays of weeks or even months.
Thankfully, because of the hostel and the hotel, we are able to accommodate all those who have already booked to stay with us, and until we know more we will not be taking any more bookings for the apartments. We can only apologise to those who we have inconvenienced, and we recognise we have a responsibility not only to our guests but all our partners who are involved in the apartment project, and we are extremely thankful for their understanding.
After our experiences over the past couple of months we realise now that in a situation such as this one, it is premature to confirm and communicate a date until we are completely sure that we can meet all deadlines, so we ask for patience and understanding that we will not use this opportunity to make any further announcements as to the opening. That said, the Circus Apartments will be opening its doors, and we hope to be able to do so before the end of the year.
We will keep you posted about the progress of this project, that we remain completely excited about. We are still convinced that the new apartments are going to be spectacular, and as soon as we know for sure when we can share them with you, we will let you know.
Andreas, Tilman, Andreas, Jim and Christian
The Owners of The Circus GbR
If you have any questions or need any further information, please contact the Project Manager for the Circus Apartments Katrin Schönig: schoenig@circus-berlin.de
On my way home, taking some loops, sometimes travelling sideways, and just enjoying for the last time the serenity of deserted landscapes before heading back to busy Europe. I spent the last two days in the Namib desert, a radical and existential natural environment of golden-orange masses of sands, sometimes towering up into majestic dunes. There are no sounds. It is dry and hot.
A Word of Solidarity and Support
21. Februar 2011 in Circus News, Commentary by Andreas
These are the existential rights which we, the people at the Circus and our guests from all over the world, enjoy, and – coming from the city which both erected and brought down the wall – we are extremely impressed and moved by your courage and determination.
Even if our European governments are careful and at times skeptical, partly because of being in bed with your dictators and authoritarian rulers for far too long, and partly because of a fear of “instability” or “waves of refugees”, we – although understanding the origins of these thoughts – would like to make something clear: We do not share these fears, and trust in the power of democracy that has changed this country too.
We hope – and some of us might even pray
– that you are successful in your battle, and would like to say wholeheartedly that we are at your side.
Andreas Becker