Those who want to unlock a front door with the Berlin key, need tact! Whoever does not know how to use a “Berlin key”, will be left outside – whether or not it rains, storms or snows. We have taken that to heart!
A symbol for Rubina
Every company needs to be on its best behaviour and that also requires a professional Corporate Identity. Since we had not associated a logo with our lettering yet, we were of the opinion that this should be changed. No sooner said than done, and small grey clouds of smoke already rose from our marketing personnel’s heads, thinking hard.
Based in the beautiful city of Berlin, of course, there would be a lot on offer. The Berliner Bär (the bear of Berlin)? The Brandenburg Gate or even the Victory Column? Oh no, rather not. Soon we realised what we had gotten ourselves into. In meetings, heads were put together and it was hotly debated which logo would best symbolise our philosophy of success and integrity. Many proposals were made, but somehow we were not thrilled.
The success is the key – or is the key the success?
In most cases, the simplest ideas are still the best. Each placement of a property is of absolutely no use if you don’t have the right key – and that can be applied to many fields of the real estate industry. As such, it is important to have the right key to success, because that leads us to the key that opens all doors. If we even offer the key that ensures absolute safety then, we also have the key – which is passed at each purchase of a house or flat – in our hands.
What exactly is our statement?
All this can be taken as a synonym to express exactly what we have in mind: We take our customers far and open many doors to them – we provide security and in case of success we may ultimately hand over the house keys ceremoniously. And that is how the idea was born to choose a key as a logo. But of course, it couldn’t be an ordinary common or garden key. But those who call Berlin a home, will sooner or later come upon the “Berlin key”. A curiosity of the very special kind. And since we also offer a unique and exquisite service, just as a rarity is unique and exquisite, we easily made our decision.
A key is making history
The Berlin key might still be known to the older generation. Only in Berlin, however, because it is a real Berlin invention which comes up with a very clever mechanism. The somewhat strange-looking key has two identical key bits on both ends and no key head. That is why it is also called double key or, in German, Durchsteckschlüssel, which roughly means push-through key. It is inserted into the lock ordinarily and after a three-quarter turn, the front door opens. Who now tries to pull the key out again, will have little success. As long as the door is open, the key remains in the lock. Whether with or without pliers, with full use of the body weight or similar desperate seeming actions: the key remains inside, the person remains outside. The trick is that you now have to push the key through the keyhole, only then enter the house and now turn the key in the opposite direction on the other side of the door. Now it can be removed again and the door is closed and the person is finally in there. It’s that simple!
Who came up with this ingenious idea?
The concept is as brilliant as it is simple. 103 years ago, the 24-year-old locksmith Johannes Schweiger puzzled over his unusual idea, which he applied for a patent in 1912. Schweiger had an eye and ear for the growing safety need of his fellows, who mostly lived in tenements that were interconnected through backyards and thus strangers could easily gain access. The Berlin key guaranteed an ever-closed door, and thus security for the residents. Nowadays, this key is still frequently used in old building areas, where corresponding locks in doorways and house doors are in place. For nostalgics and insiders, the globally unique key has become a popular accessory.
The philosophical reflections of a key
The key seems to have magically attracted scientists as well. Hence, an interesting essay was written by sociologist Bruno Latour, who worked for the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. The key must have intrigued him a lot during his time in Berlin because he came to the conclusion that opposites are being symbolically represented here. These philosophical reflections are entitled as inside and outside, openness and control, residents and thieves, have and have not.
Tradition connected to Berlin
With the Berlin key we not only want to document the closeness to Berlin but also pay tribute to the pioneering spirit of Johannes Schweiger. He has realised the market niche and found a globally unique solution with a lot of enthusiasm.
We have modified the key, leaving the outer form, but chose the Brandenburg Gate as key bits on each end. Thereby, we believe we have found a very nice solution which satisfies our company’s ambition.
