Tchoban Foundation

On the grounds of an imposing industrial monument is the foundation of architect Sergei Tchoban. In the midst of this now-vibrant cultural centre in Prenzlauer Berg, The Tchoban Foundation offers insight into the history of urban planning. The collection consists of architectural drawings from the 16th century up until today. Over four levels, the foundation presents works by big names such as Mies van der Rohe and Charles Friedrich Schinkel. The building is an exhibit in itself: from the outside see coloured concrete, windowless sandstone cubes, a modern glass floor, as well as the finest sgraffito decorations.

What there is to see at the Museum on the Pfefferberg

Since the early 1990s, the Leningrad-born Sergei Tchoban worked in Germany. He designed both the glass Cubix cinema and Chabad Lubavitch Synagogue in Berlin. However, his special passion was handmade architectural drawings. This type of art was largely replaced in the 21st century by computer technology. To celebrate such graphics, in 2009 he opened the Tchoban Foundation. Since 2013, it has been housed in the building of a former brewery on the Pfefferberg. The building seems to be loosely stacked like a Jenga tower. It is crowned with a glass cube which is used as a meeting place. The unique outer surface of the building encloses delicate architectural drawings. Architecture fans will enjoy the museum shop and extensive library on the ground floor where dark, wood-panelled walls with bookshelves characterise the interior. The two following floors are home to exhibitions, while the museum depot can be found on the third floor. Preservation of the precious drawings is aided by windowless rooms. Your attention is captured by the precision of the drawings. They include designs by Yakov Consider Chernikhov, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry. One of the highlights is a drawing by Pietro di Gottardo Gonzago. In 2001, the Tchoban collection began amassing Italian 18th and 19th century works that are celebrated in Russia. The collection extends back to the 16th century, with a focus on Russian Constructivism. The museum also presents hundreds of drawings from Tchoban's own hand.
Exhibition highlights

Hundreds of drawings by Sergei Tchoban.

• Works by Berlin's famous city architect of the neo-classical period - Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
• Earliest drawing of the collection - Pietro di Gottardo Gonzago.
• Works by Mies van der Rohe, Gottfried Böhm, and Frank Gehry.
• The modernist architecture of the museum building.

Nearby galleries and attractions

Close to the Tchoban Foundation, you will find the gallery of the architecture forum AEDES. Here, you can witness the architecture of past centuries in changing exhibitions. The gallery has also organised panel discussions and public receptions. About a 20 minute ride on the U2 or the 165 bus to Köpenicker Straße 48/49, you can tour the Deutsche Architektur Zentrum DAZ. The collection is mostly aimed at architecture connoisseurs, though the different exhibitions are also interesting for hobby architects and laymen. The centre presents old and new approaches to architectural drawing and urban design. Prominent architects and experts give lectures in the adjacent Scharoun Hall.

Your visit - our tips

Arrive at Senefelderplatz on the U-bahn line U2, leaving the station in the direction of Christinenstraße. Walk 250 metres from here and you reach the museum of the Tchoban Foundation. Pupils, students, the unemployed and severely disabled receive discounted entry. 60-minute tours are possible at an extra cost. During these tours you will also get to see the museum archive. The museum is open daily in the afternoon.

Opening hours