MiNiMONO FAMILY #24 - ANNA, JULIUS, ROSA (8) AND MADITA (3)

MEET AN UNUSUAL FAMILY WHOSE EVERYDAY LIFE FLOWS BETWEEN BERLIN, THE SPREE AND FOUR HISTORIC BOATS. THEIR WORK, FAMILY LIFE AND LOVE OF THE WATER ARE ALL CLOSELY INTERTWINED, WITH PLENTY OF ROOM FOR ADVENTURE, FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD AND, OF COURSE, A LITTLE CHAOS ALONG THE WAY.

1- EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS OWN RHYTHM AND ITS OWN LITTLE WORLD… WHO ARE YOU, WHERE DO YOU LIVE, AND WHO MAKES UP YOUR FAMILY? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FAMILY IN A FEW WORDS?

WE ARE ANNA, JULIUS, ROSA (8), AND MADITA (3). WE LIVE IN BERLIN, WHERE WE SPEND OUR LIVES NOT ONLY ON LAND BUT ALSO A GREAT DEAL OF TIME ON THE SPREE, AFTER ALL, OUR FAMILY INCLUDES FOUR HISTORIC BOATS. WE CRUISE THE WATERS IN THEM AND HOST THE MOST WONDERFUL PARTIES FOR OUR GUESTS.

2- YOUR FAMILY LIFE AND YOUR WORK SEEM TO BE QUITE CLOSELY INTERTWINED. WHAT DOES A NORMAL WEEK LOOK LIKE FOR YOU? AND HOW DO THE BOATS AND THE RIVER BECOME PART OF YOUR FAMILY LIFE?

WORK AND FAMILY LIFE ARE DEEPLY INTERTWINED, A SITUATION THAT IS BOTH A BLESSING AND A CURSE. THERE IS HARDLY SUCH A THING AS A TYPICAL WEEK, EXCEPT FOR THE CHILDREN. THANKS TO THEIR ROUTINES, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SOME OF OUR OWN, WHICH BENEFITS THE WHOLE FAMILY; AFTER ALL, JULIUS AND I USED TO LEAD VERY COLORFUL, WILD LIVES.

NOW, HE FOLLOWS A REGULAR SCHEDULE; COMMUTING TO THE OFFICE AT THE HISTORIC HARBOR JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE, TO OVERSEE OPERATIONS: MAKING REPAIRS, CHECKING ON THE CREW, AND WORKING WITH THEM TO READY THE SHIPS FOR THE NEXT TOUR. I HANDLE THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES; TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUE, I MANAGE CLIENT RELATIONS AND OVERSEE AESTHETIC ASPECTS, SUCH AS OUTFITTING CHOICES, ORDERS, AND SPECIAL CUSTOMER REQUESTS... AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS.

3- LIVING AND WORKING ON THE WATER MUST GIVE YOU A RATHER SPECIAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE CITY. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BERLIN AS A PLACE TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN? ARE THERE PARTICULAR PLACES, RITUALS OR THINGS YOU LIKE DOING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY?

THE BOATS AND THE RIVER RADIATE SUCH A SENSE OF CALM, SOMETHING ONE OFTEN SEEKS IN BERLIN. THE CITY IS LOUD AND FAST-PACED, WHEREAS THE SPREE AND THE BOATS ARE QUIET AND MOVE AT A LEISURELY PACE. ONCE YOU’VE MADE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE URBAN JUNGLE AND ARRIVE AT THE HARBOR, IT FEELS LIKE A BREAK FROM EVERYTHING. OUR GUESTS OFTEN TELL US THE SAME THING, AND FOR US, THAT IS THE GREATEST GIFT.

WHAT WE LOVE MOST ABOUT BERLIN IS THAT OUR CHILDREN DON’T HAVE TO MISS OUT ON ANYTHING HERE; THERE IS EVERYTHING. IF IT GETS TOO LOUD FOR US, WE HAVE OUR OWN RETREAT: WE HEAD OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE OR VIEW THE CITY CENTER FROM THE WATER. NO HONKING, NO SHOUTING. A SPECIAL RITUAL FOR US IS CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ON ONE OF OUR BOATS; IT’S ALWAYS A TRULY SPECIAL OCCASION FOR EVERYONE.

4- RUNNING A BUSINESS TOGETHER IS ONE THING, BUT RUNNING A BUSINESS TOGETHER WHILE RAISING TWO CHILDREN MUST BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY… WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING WITH YOUR PARTNER? HOW DO YOU DIVIDE THINGS BETWEEN YOU, AND HAVE YOU FOUND YOURSELVES TAKING ON DIFFERENT ROLES AT WORK AND AT HOME?

THAT’S QUITE A TOPIC! WE HAVE VERY DIFFERENT STRENGTHS THAT LEND THEMSELVES WELL TO A DIVISION OF LABOR AT WORK, SO NEITHER OF US STEPS ON THE OTHER’S TOES. JULIUS WORKS AT THE PORT, DROPPING THE KIDS OFF BEFOREHAND. I WORK IN A STUDIO SPACE I SHARE WITH OTHER CREATIVES SO I DON’T HAVE TO WORK FROM HOME ALL THE TIME.

DAILY FAMILY LIFE IS A DIFFERENT STORY, THOUGH; OUR YOUNGEST REALLY SHOOK THINGS UP AND CHANGED A LOT OF THE ROUTINES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY SETTLED INTO A GOOD RHYTHM. EVEN SO, THE DIVISION OF ROLES REMAINS SIMILAR. WHEN IT COMES TO SPONTANEITY, FUN, AND ADVENTURE, WE SCORE A PERFECT 10 OUT OF 10! WE STILL STRUGGLE A BIT WITH ORGANIZATION, OBLIGATIONS, AND PUNCTUALITY.

5- AND AFTER ALL THE BOATS, PEOPLE AND THINGS HAPPENING AROUND YOU, HOME MUST SOMETIMES BE THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SIMPLY BE TOGETHER. WHAT DOES YOUR HOME FEEL LIKE TO YOU, AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT REALLY YOUR FAMILY HOME?

WE MOVED QUITE RECENTLY, AND IN THE YEARS PRIOR, IT HAD BECOME VERY CLEAR WHAT EACH OF US TRULY NEEDS: LIGHT, A BIT MORE PRIVACY, AND—ONCE AGAIN—LIGHT. THE CHILDREN NOW HAVE THEIR OWN ROOMS, AND MY HUSBAND AND I NO LONGER SLEEP IN A SEMI-OPEN LIVING AREA.

WHILE “HOME” FOR US IS SIMPLY WHEREVER WE ARE TOGETHER, WE FEEL MOST AT EASE SURROUNDED BY CHEERFUL COLORS, BEAUTIFUL PICTURES, COZY FURNITURE, AND THE FREEDOM TO BE LOUD. AFTER ALL, EVER SINCE OUR LITTLE WILD CHILD MADITA JOINED THE FAMILY, THERE’S BEEN PLENTY OF SQUEALING, DANCING, AND ROMPING AROUND TOGETHER.

6- FOOD SOMEHOW ALWAYS TASTES A LITTLE BETTER WHEN YOU’RE EATING IT OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY ON THE WATER… IS THERE SOMETHING YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE TO COOK OR PREPARE TO TAKE WITH YOU ON THE BOAT? A FAMILY FAVOURITE THAT WORKS WELL FOR A DAY OUT ON THE WATER?

WE’RE NEVER ALONE ON THE BOAT; WE USUALLY BRING ALONG A LOT OF FRIENDS, AND I SERVE UP SOME REALLY AMAZING DISHES: EVERYTHING FROM PEARL COUSCOUS SALAD WITH SAUTÉED ZUCCHINI AND PARMESAN TO DEVILED EGGS AND ONION TART. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE COOKING AND SPOILING MY FRIENDS WITH THE FOOD.

JULIUS ALSO MAKES THE MOST WONDERFUL PIZZA, WHICH TASTES DELICIOUS EVEN WHEN COLD, PREFERABLY TOPPED WITH BRAISED TUNA AND ONION CONFIT.

7- WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SEE HOW OUR PIECES FIND THEIR OWN PLACE IN A FAMILY’S EVERYDAY LIFE… HOW DO YOU USE YOUR MiNiMONO PIECES?

FOR US, THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE ALL-ROUNDERS. ON THE BOAT, THEY SERVE AS PERFECT TABLES: STURDY, WEATHER-RESISTANT, AND COLORFUL ENOUGH TO MATCH THE INTERIOR; WHILE THE STEP STOOL IS IDEAL FOR HELPING YOUNG GUESTS TAKE THE HELM.

AT HOME, WE USE THEM AS STEP STOOLS IN THE BATHROOM AND KITCHEN; THE TABLES HAVE BECOME INDISPENSABLE, SERVING AS BOTH STOOLS AND COFFEE TABLES.

THANK YOU, ANNA, FOR SHARING A LITTLE PIECE OF YOUR FAMILY’S WORLD WITH US. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING SOMETIME SOON IN ONE OF YOUR BERLINER WELLE BOATS!