Hohenschönhausen.

There are three lakes right next to each other in Hohenschönhausen, which make an attractive easy-to-reach destination for a trip out for the day. The character of the district is shaped by elegant villas and country houses designed by renowned architects of the ilk of Mies van der Rohe, built around the 3 lakes (Obersee, Orankesee and Fauler See). No real surprise then that the residents here like to call their neighbourhood the “Wannsee of the East”.

Mies van der Rohe House: Wide window façades overlooking the lake

At first sight, the Mies van der Rohe House looks rather unimposing and inconspicuous. Some visitors even pass by it at first without noticing it! Built in 1932 in the Bauhaus style, it is only on closer inspection that the house with its bright red bricks and broad window façades looking out to the Obersee lake really emerges into its real glory. The house, now the Kunsthaus (Art House), represents the last house built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in Germany before emigrating to America in 1938. The owners of the house were the factory owner couple Martha and Karl Lemke, who lived here until 1945.

Exhibition pavilion for Modern Art

At the end of the Second World War, the Red Army declared a prohibited military area around the two lakes Obersee and Orankesee, forcing the Lemke family to leave the villa. The building was then taken over and used as a garage for all kinds of vehicles. Later on, until 1976, the single-storey bungalow was used as a residence by a first lieutenant of the Stasi (East German Secret Police). In the final years of the East German regime, a canteen for use by the Ministry for State Security was set up in the by then dilapidated house. Following the reunification of Germany, the building was completely renovated, and the Lemke Villa is today an exhibition pavilion for Modern Art, also visited by many fans of architecture.

Land houses and villas around Obersee

If, starting from here, you take a stroll along Oberseestraße, you will soon understand why Berliners used to translate the name Hohenschönhausen as “where the top people live well”. Several of the houses there are listed buildings. The first villa colony was created here in 1892, with another built at the beginning of the 20th century. In the industrial period of Berlin then prevailing, Berliners really appreciated that the houses in Alt-Hohenschönhausen were situated at a higher level than in other suburbs such as Steglitz, thus enjoying a better quality of air.

Coffee and cakes in the water tower

Up to 1922, the villa settlement obtained its drinking water from a water tower located on
Lindwerderberg. Even though the water tank was dismantled in 1933, the tower still dominates the landscape at Obersee. These days, the “Bar in the Water Tower” invites its guests for a short afternoon break for coffee and cakes (the bar will reopen in March when the winter is over); in the evenings you can order cocktails, wine and beer. At night the ledge surrounding the spire is illuminated. A green ring of light means that the bar is open.

The biggest and most modern animal shelter in Europe

If you fancy continuing your stroll after the break for coffee and cakes, the most interesting sights are found if you walk in a north-easterly direction through nature, past Hohenschönhausen S-Bahn station through the extended Falkenberger Luch, a nature reserve of exceptional beauty. Just behind it, is located the Falkenberg animal shelter, an outstanding example of contemporary architecture in the new Berlin. As large as 30 football pitches, Dietrich Bangert’s futuristic design of glass and concrete has even already provided the film setting for the science-fiction film “Æon Flux” with Charlize Theron. It’s also one of the biggest animal shelters in Europe. Set in the grounds of a former pig fattening plant, it offers a home for 600 cats, 300 dogs and 300 other small animals. And for those who visit the animal shelter at the end of their trip to Hohenschönhausen, not only will they return home with plenty of new impressions gained, but maybe with a new pet too.

For those who are keen on discovering Hohenschönhausen and the other districts in Berlin, there are lots of local neighbourhood stories available in our “Kiez erleben” (Experience local neighbourhoods) travel guide, which you can order online here.

Addresses
Mies van der Rohe House: Oberseestraße 60
Land houses and villas well worth seeing: e.g. Oberseestraße 50/52 and 76, Water Tower at Obersee:
Waldowstraße 20
Falkenberg Animal Shelter: Hausvaterweg 39