When you walk up the main staircase at Fotografiska Berlin, you pass graffiti from the 1990s, along with punk stickers and posters. The walls were deliberately left untouched during the renovation. The museum of contemporary photography is located in the former Kunsthaus Tacheles on Oranienburger Straße in Mitte, and the building has seen quite a few transformations since it opened 118 years ago. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., you can view art here and then enjoy a cocktail upstairs under the glass dome.
From department store to ruin, from squat to museum
Between 1907 and 1908, a shopping mecca was built on Oranienburger Straße featuring the Friedrichstraße Passage, at the time one of the city’s largest shopping arcades. The reinforced concrete building featured one of Berlin’s first reinforced concrete domes spanning the central hall. Later, it was used by, among others, AEG, the Nazis, and the Free German Trade Union Federation of the GDR. The war severely damaged it.
In February 1990, just a few months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, young artists climbed through a window of the half-demolished ruin and occupied it. The Tacheles e.V. initiative thus prevented the building from being demolished. The building was transformed into studios, galleries, a movie theater, bars, and concert venues, with a sculpture garden in the backyard. In September 2012, the artists were forced to move out. Since 2014, the site has been owned by the development company PWR. The architects Herzog & de Meuron treated the exterior of the historic, protected building as a historical artifact and preserved traces of war damage and graffiti. In September 2023, the Fotografiska opened here.
What to Expect at Fotografiska
The exhibitions, spread across approximately 1,100 square meters, feature emerging Berlin photographers as well as established international names. The focus is on environmental, political, and social issues. In total, the building spans six floors and covers about 5,500 square meters. It also hosts concerts, artist talks, readings, and conferences. A unique feature: drinks and dogs are allowed in the exhibition spaces.
At the very top, in the glass dome, is the Clara rooftop bar with a view over the city, open late into the evening. The building also houses the Veronika restaurant, a café, a bakery, a bistro, and a concept store featuring design, art, and fashion from Berlin labels. Behind the culinary concept is Yoram Roth, president of Fotografiska Berlin and co-owner of Kater Blau and Clärchens Ballhaus.
The building is owned by private investors and operates for profit. The bars and restaurants are intended to help finance the art. This approach has sparked debate, as many see the transformation from a squat to a prestige project as a symbol of Berlin’s changing landscape. Former Tacheles artists criticize the venue, saying it is now primarily commercial.
Practical Information
- Address: Oranienburger Straße, Mitte
- Directions: Take the S1, S2, S25, or S26 to Oranienburger Straße, or the U6 to Oranienburger Tor
- Hours: Daily 10 a.m.–11 p.m.
- Tickets: Adults 14 to 16 euros, depending on the day of the week; 8 euros for those 65 and older and those 25 and younger; children 12 and under free
You can find current exhibitions and prices on the official website of Fotografiska Berlin.
