A New Chapter Begins with The Feeling of Berlin
At our final Fotografiska live podcast of the year, the spotlight shone on WAA Founder Daria and co-author Cynthia as they shared the stories and passion behind their brand new book.
Published by The Gentle Temper, The Feeling of Berlin is much more than your typical guide. It leads you through the city via the lives of 33 women whose work and lives have left their mark, ranging from artists and activists to restaurant owners and everyday community voices. Instead of being “just-another-city-guide”, the book gathers more than 250 personal tips for cafés, eateries, bars, cultural spots and must-know local places.
“We both stepped into brand new territory when coming up with the idea to write a book together” – Daria
What began as a casual introduction from a mutual friend quickly grew into a larger-than-life, slightly crazy and a very ambitious vision. Cynthia Mensah-Neglokpe, the founder of clicqui, celebrated for her curated dinner series and social events in Copenhagen, Paris, and Berlin, brought her sharp instinct for all things fresh and aesthetic, while WAA’s Daria contributed her unique gift for great storytelling, giving the project its narrative depth.
Sharing the joint philosophy of “What’s the worst that can happen?” – and with Cynthia promising herself to simply say “Yes!” to new adventures this year – they embarked on a journey full of surprises while creating The Feeling of Berlin.
“This was a year where I decided I was just going to say ‘yes!’ to everything” – Cynthia
From the very beginning, they knew the book should be a celebration of the women shaping the city and serve as a guide you’d want to gift to your best friend, and together, they called on the power of their vibrant network of women who call it home to create something completely unique, something unmistakably Berlin.
Celebrating the unique strength and personality of each woman featured, Cynthia and Daria made a promise to ensure every reader could find themselves within the pages – championing our differences while inviting you to see the city through their eyes. With their sharp eye for detail, they touched every piece of content that you see – from the first interviews to the last photo taken, everything in the book carries a hint of the personality of Cynthia and Daria, with their taste and style evident on every page.
“Listening and understanding each other played such a crucial role in making the book” – Daria
There were of course highs and lows, late nights and early mornings, but it was in the journey itself that Daria and Cynthia truly thrived. Over four intense summer months of round-the-clock collaboration, they discovered the power of compromise, witnessing firsthand how differences can become strengths and how blind spots can spark the best ideas.
At the heart of the entire project is the trust, teamwork and the support of the wider network of women that surround them and support them. The result? A guide that is as much about the women as it is about the city – a celebration of creativity and community. It’s a tribute, a love letter, and a thank-you to the female voices leaving their mark on Berlin.
“We draw our energy from other people and the community around us” – Cynthia
Published by The Gentle Temper
Photography by Eva Luise Hoppe