Haus INSPIRIMUS is a creative and contemplative center near Berlin, founded by cellist and pedagogue Xenia Jankovic. It was created to offer a space where artists can work with focus and freedom—whether preparing for concerts, recording projects, or simply stepping back from daily life to reflect and recharge. The center welcomes musicians, visual artists, and interdisciplinary creators. It supports rehearsal residencies, recording sessions and artistic retreats. Inspirimus offers an environment rooted in nature, beauty, and deep listening—open to professionals and young artists alike.
The Story Behind Inspirimus
Haus INSPIRIMUS was born from a lifelong dream: to create a space, a home where art, creativity, nature, and a sense of freedom and joy can come together.
Founded by cellist and professor Xenia Jankovic, the idea took root in her early experiences at the special music school of the Moscow Conservatory and at Mstislav Rostropovich’s country house—known in Russia as a dacha—in the forest village of Zhukovka. This village outside Moscow, where Dmitri Shostakovich and Andrei Sakharov also had their dachas, was like a paradise for young Xenia: a place filled with beauty, inspiration, and a deep sense of artistic freedom.
It was there she first experienced what it meant to live through music: to play and listen with friends in these modest houses, to read poetry aloud, to walk in the forest, and to engage in conversations about art, science, and life. It was a place of love and respect—for nature, for creativity, and for the profound mystery of life.
Many years later, in the village of Ferch just outside Berlin, Xenia found the ideal place to bring this vision to life. The hills above the village are covered with forest and dotted with wooden houses that reminded her of Zhukovka. Down in the valley lies the lake Schwielowsee, with its Mediterranean charm—sloping houses, winding alleys, and quiet water—evoking the Adriatic landscapes of her childhood, especially the Bay of Kotor.
“The mix of northern forest with simple wooden houses, and the lake with sailboats, beaches, and small restaurants — it’s a magical combination. For me, this village is where North and South flow together, and where the Western (capitalist) way of life meets some of the positive and charming aspects of the former Eastern Bloc countries.”
Create at Inspirimus
Inspirimus is a space for focused, meaningful artistic work—designed especially for musicians, and particularly for chamber music ensembles and recording projects. At the heart of Inspirimus is a professionally equipped studio with beautiful acoustics and natural light—ideal for high-quality audio and video recordings, intensive rehearsal periods, and creative retreats.
From October 2025, the studio will feature a Steinway & Sons Model D concert grand piano — the flagship instrument used in major concert halls and recordings worldwide. Whether you’re preparing for a concert, working on a recording, or entering a concentrated phase of artistic preparation, Inspirimus offers the space and stillness to support your work.
The Haus Inspirimus is located just outside Berlin, near the lake Schwielowsee, in a quiet and beautiful natural setting. Surrounded by forest, light, and water, the center offers a peaceful environment for focused artistic work, rest, and renewal.
The property includes:
A large studio suitable for chamber music, solo work, or small group rehearsals
Steinway & Sons Model D concert grand piano (available from October 2025)
Three fully equipped cottages, each with a kitchenette, bathroom, and living/sleeping space (each cottage accommodates up to 3 people)
A peaceful garden and sauna, with room to rest, walk, and reflect
Inspirimus is open to:
Ensembles making professional recordings or rehearsing for concerts and artistic projects
Musicians preparing for performances, auditions, or competitions
Individuals seeking creative retreat connected to music and nature
Small workshops and music-based intensives
The space can be booked for a few days or several weeks, depending on availability and project needs. The cottages can be booked independently or as part of a residency or project. Musicians will find instruments and practice spaces available; visual artists and interdisciplinary creators are welcome to adapt the space to their needs.
Whether you’re here to record, rehearse, prepare for a competition, develop a project, or simply pause and reflect— Haus Inspirimus is a place where focused work and inner spaciousness coexist.
About our founder - Xenia Jankovic:
Xenia Jankovic is an internationally respected cellist and pedagogue. She has performed as a soloist with major orchestras, collaborated in leading chamber music festivals, and taught generations of young cellists during her years as professor at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold. With Inspirimus, she brings together her experience as an artist, mentor, and seeker to create a space for meaningful artistic work and exchange.