HACKESCHE HÖFE

Description

Essentials about the Hackesche Höfe in brief

The Hackesche Höfe are now a must-see on almost every visit to Berlin. With its beautiful Art Nouveau façade, Germany’s largest enclosed courtyard area is not only an architectural sight. Rather, the very special flair of the unique mixed use of gastronomy, stores, cultural institutions, commerce and apartments attracts millions of tourists, night owls and scene goers to the courtyards every year.

The history and the buildings of the Hackesche Höfe

The Hackesche Höfe are located in the so-called Scheunenviertel of Berlin-Mitte, just a stone’s throw from Alexanderplatz and Museum Island. The name Scheunenviertel comes from the many barns that used to be here outside the city walls to store hay and straw due to the risk of fire. In the early 18th century, so many residents eventually settled in the Scheunenviertel that it became necessary to extend the city walls and the area became part of Berlin.

Jewish residents in particular settled around Hackescher Markt. Even today, the synagogue on Oranienburger Strasse and the Jewish cemetery on Große Hamburger Strasse bear witness to the lively Jewish community. The Hackesche Höfe were finally opened in 1906 after several years of construction. The use of the building complex, as in many other Berlin backyards, was a mixture of offices, businesses, manufactories and apartments.

During World War II, the courtyards were only partially destroyed, but during the division of Germany, the facades continued to crumble. During the GDR, the courtyards were owned by the people and were not maintained. It was not until after the fall of the Wall that the Hackesche Höfe were extensively restored in 1993. The former mixed-use concept was taken up again during the renovation and implemented very successfully.

Today, the eight courtyards offer 27,000 square meters of space for dozens of companies and small businesses, cultural institutions, a cinema, cafés, stores and apartments. With its numerous bars, restaurants and clubs, the area around the Hackesche Höfe is one of Berlin’s hottest nightlife spots.