Academy of Arts on Hanseatenweg

In addition to the Akademie der Künste am Pariser Platz, there is also the location in the Hansaviertel. The Hansaviertel is a quieter neighbourhood in the Tiergarten and yet right in the centre of the capital. It has a great history:

The Hansaviertel - Famous neighbourhood in Berlin

In 1957, an exhibition took place in West Berlin that caused a worldwide sensation: Interbau - the International Building Exhibition Berlin - attracts 53 top architects from 13 countries to the Hansaviertel neighbourhood, which had been destroyed in the war, to rebuild it in a modern and innovative way. Resounding names such as Alvar Aalto, Le Corbusier, Bruno Taut or Walter Gropius give an impression of the level of urban planning ideas that will be realised in the Hansaviertel. Exciting: The new Architecture of Berlin Modernism of the post-war period was planned as a deliberate counter-design to the activities in East Berlin, where large modern buildings are being constructed on what was then Stalinallee.

Crowning glory of the construction project: the Academy of Arts

At the time of Interbau, the Academy of Arts was not yet planned. The famous Berlin architect Werner Düttmann, who also built the Brücke Museum in Berlin, planned a building complex for the Academy of Arts at the end of the 1950s, which was to find its new home in the Hansaviertel neighbourhood. Düttmann, who later became President of the Academy, called the building, which was inaugurated in 1960, a "clear, unpathetic box".

Spacious, cubic and clear

The architecture is characterised by simple and clear geometry and consists of three differently designed structures:

The flat, cubic main building with the exhibition spaces is flanked by studios, workshops and flats. You can see the main entrance immediately, with "The Reclining Figure", a well-known sculpture by Henry Moore, stretching out in front of it. Adjacent to the south is a brick building with low-pitched copper roofs, which houses a studio with rooms for film and stage.

In the east, a five-storey building with flats, studios and offices borders the site. 

These three large building sections are connected by foyers and glazed corridors. The spacious interior of the central low-rise building is flooded with light thanks to large windows, openings, recesses and galleries. There is a balanced interplay of line, form and material.

The entire complex is aesthetically complemented by the beautiful, understated outdoor facilities by Walter Rossow. The complex with its large public and small private spaces, corridors and gardens is recognisably inspired by the concept of a monastery. Public and private space form a multifunctional whole. The important thing is that art can develop and take effect here without disruptive influences and superfluous decor.

The academy today

The site is now used intensively for exhibitions and events organised by the Academy of Arts and utilises the full spectrum of the variously designed rooms. The rich programme includes art exhibitions on various themes, readings and cinema screenings. You can listen to concerts, watch debates, attend award ceremonies and enjoy theatre and dance.

Big names in the Hansaviertel

Among others

• Ingeborg Bachmann
• Paul Celan
•  
• Henry Moore
• Samuel Beckett

Your visit

The building on Hanseatenweg in the Moabit district is easily accessible: Bellevue S-Bahn station, Hansaplatz underground station or bus route 106.

The educational programme offers inclusive services such as guided tours for visually impaired and blind visitors, but the interior spaces are not barrier-free throughout.

More culture nearby

Not far away are the Schloss Bellevue and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. Behind it is the Government district. The Strasse des 17. Juni and the Tiergarten are also within walking distance. You can take long walks in the Tiergarten - surrounded by greenery and yet in the centre of the city.