TELEKOM ELECTRONIC BEATS HOSTS ERYKAH BADU’S MONDAY CEREMONY
As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, Telekom Electronic Beats in collaboration with Kalkul hosted the European premiere of Erykah Badu’s sound meditation at the Reethaus in Berlin. The Monday Ceremony offered a rare proximity to the American neo soul singer in a space known for its contemplative architecture of concrete, glass, and reed. Designed by Austrian architect Monika Gogl as an homage to ancient temples, caves and other natural hollow spaces, the Reethaus provided a unique setting for the global icon.
The exclusive ritual, initially unveiled on the Kalkul Rooftop in Tokyo, was limited to just 25 guests per session. Through high-resolution Audio-Technica headphones, guests experienced a 30-minute listening session lying on floor mats, immersed in sound, connection, and focus. Badu guided participants through fragments from her personal archive, unreleased material from her upcoming album, and spontaneous improvisations. The session was a conscious, small, raw, and profoundly personal experience, serving as a counterpoint to her large-scale arena concert held the following day.
all images courtesy of Telekom Electronic Beats, unless stated otherwise | image © Nadira Tania
A MODERN SOUND TEMPLE AT FLUSSBAD CAMPUS
Located near the Spree River, the Reethaus is the first completed phase of the larger Flussbad campus. The venue is part of Slowness, an experiential hospitality collective that reframes how people live and come together. For Kalkul and Electronic Beats, Deutsche Telekom’s cultural program, it provided the perfect backdrop for Erykah Badu’s meditative sound experience, resembling a 12-meter-tall temple with word-class sound technology. The building, designed by Austrian architect Monika Gogl, is an architectural collaboration that included Belgian designer Cédric Etienne and stands as a radical structure, characterized by a hand-thatched reed roof that allows the architecture to blend with its riverside environment.
Reethaus, designed by Monika Gogl as an homage to ancient temples| image © Jose Cuevas
BERLIN’S REETHAUS PROVIDES A PEACEFUL PERFORMANCE SPACE
The interior design fosters an environment of complete presence, allowing the mix of rich, sensory materials, including blocks of burnt and scented cork, waxed oak seats, and woven tatami mats, to form a unified and tactile sanctuary. The intimate 30-minute session unfolded within the Reethaus’ core inner chamber, a ritual space where the architecture seeks to cultivate deep calm inspired by the tenets of Wabi-Sabi. Moving away from the format of a traditional auditorium, the design approach prioritizes textures, light, and creating an atmosphere of total repose. The wooden ceiling features a dramatic skylight that connects the chamber directly to the sky, imbuing the space with a spiritual charisma.
At the conclusion of the gathering, Erykah Badu personally engaged with the audience, inviting them to reflect on the experience. The artist’s powerful closing query asked participants to think about ‘how we can live the rest of our lives truly present and fully focused?’
Reethaus’ inner chamber | image © Clemens Poloczek
the architecture seeks to cultivate deep calm inspired by the tenets of Wabi-Sabi | image © Clemens Poloczek
