Hasenheide 13 is creating a new venue for contemporary art and culture in Berlin. The historic ballroom in Berlin-Kreuzberg was built in 1899 and, over the course of its history, has been used as an event venue, theatre, cinema and nightclub. Following extensive restoration, the building is now being reopened to the public. The focus is on exhibitions of contemporary art. Events and other cultural formats complement the programme and connect to the building’s history as a place of encounter.
HASENHEIDE 13
The history of Hasenheide 13 is closely linked to Berlin’s development.
When innkeeper Max Kliem had the ballroom built in 1899, the area around Hasenheide developed into a vibrant part of Berlin’s city life. Amid inns, entertainment venues and meeting places, Hasenheide 13 became a regular hub for events and public life.
Over the course of the 20th century, the building was a cinema, dance hall and meeting place for Berlin’s nightlife. At the same time, it was a place for social and political debate. As the Primus-Filmpalast and later as the Cheetah nightclub, it was visited by generations of Berliners.
The various uses have left traces that are still visible today. The restoration by David Chipperfield Architects follows the idea of not overlaying this history, but keeping its different layers of time legible. In this way, the building’s different phases remain tangible to this day.
