Berlin’s Tacheles was a legend. Immediately after the fall of the Wall, the artists’ initiative of the same name occupied the part of a former department store on Oranienburger Straße that had been saved from demolition. By 2012, the location had become a permanent art, action, event and communication center in Berlin.
After clearing, core renovation and new construction of the site, the Fotografiska Museum Berlin opened here in September 2023. It is the fourth location of the private photography museum after Stockholm, Tallinn and New York. Spanning 5,500 square meters, the new building has rooms for exhibitions, events and gastronomy, including the international restaurant Veronika, two bars, a café, a bakery, a store and a ballroom. There are also additional areas for conferences and co-working.
Studio Aisslinger has designed the interior as a liaison of old and new, in which layers of history overlap. It is not just the building that is a listed building. The graffiti that was created between 1990 and 2012 during its use as Kunsthaus Tacheles was also not allowed to be damaged.
The interior achieves a balancing act: it takes a back seat, especially where traces of the past are present. It does not compete with the patina of the building. Nevertheless, it does not create a neutral shell, but contrasts the rough and sometimes wild charm of the building with a mixture of homely comfort and purist elements. Wood and natural stone meet exposed concrete and steel. Decorative fabrics, fluffy velvet and numerous plants add a sensual facet.
Unlike traditional museums, Fotografiska Berlin remains open until 11 pm. This means that the exhibition tour can be combined with a visit to a restaurant or bar – whether before or after
Interior Design
Studio Aisslinger
Design
Cappellini, Kaldewei, Oluce, custom made
