Berlin street artists convert old bank into free museum

Graffiti artists Cren and Akte are two of the 165 artists invited to display their creative talent in the former Volksbank office, now covered floor to ceiling in artwork. The building will be demolished to make way for residences by Cologne-based real estate developer Pandion. In the meantime, organizers have made it an attractive showcase for the work of artists from all over the globe.

This large mural was painted by artist Telmo Miel on a building in the neighborhood of Kreuzberg. Berlin has a lively street art scene, with areas like Kreuzberg hosting many of the city's most striking works. Giant murals such as this one serve as an attraction for tourists from all over the globe, while brightening up the city's buildings.

Street artist One Truth sketches in the lead-up to the exhibition opening in The Haus, as the temporary space is known, which opens to the public on April 1. Artists creating with a variety of mediums began to work in the building in January, transforming it to display their individual styles and artistic influences.

Here is a sneak peek into the room of street artists Superbad Boys, a well-known Berlin-based group of roughly a dozen artists. Of the artists invited, roughly half stem from Berlin, while the rest come from other cities in Germany, as well as abroad.

An unlikely artistic material? Perhaps. This pile of moss was used in the transformation of one room. Artists participating in the exhibition in The Haus were given creative freedom to transform their spaces however - and with whatever - they wished.

Shelves and shelves piled with paint cans - a graffiti artist's paradise. The organizers of the event raised enough funds to provide materials to the artists, who are not paid for their contribution to the non-profit exhibition. Fortunately, a nearby hotel sponsored rooms for visiting artists to allow them to stay in the vicinity.

Calling themselves the "Hausmeisters" (janitors), Die Dixons, (left to right: Kimo, Jörni, Katrin and Bolle) are a street art crew from Berlin. They say projects like The Haus provide a way for street artists to gain recognition in a rapidly changing city. "We want to keep subculture; we want to keep Berlin how it is, and that's what we are fighting for," says Kimo.

Comprised of 80 rooms, The Haus bears little resemblance to the bank office it once was - this elevator included. Leaving their unique tags, artists have used the entire building as a blank canvas. Even the city's culture senator, Klaus Lederer, has voiced support for the project. The organizers hope its success will lead to more government support for urban artists in Berlin.