From artistic squat to Berlin gentrification focus, Berlin’s Tacheles artistic squat, emblematic of the free-spirited atmosphere of the city post-Wall era, is undergoing a contentious transition into offices, shops, and upscale residences.
The iconic, battle-scarred Tacheles building is set to house a branch of the Fotografiska museum chain, opening on September 14th, alongside the first occupants of newly constructed homes moving in this fall.
Upon completion, slated for late 2024, the development will feature 265 apartments ranging from 25 to 360 square meters (269 to 3875 square feet), along with spaces for Netflix and Pfizer in the German capital.
Out of the 176 apartments available for purchase, approximately 45 are still on the market, with prices ranging from 9,500 to 30,000 euros per square meter ($10,300 to $32,600), according to developer PWR. The remaining 89 apartments are designated for rental purposes.
The investment fund Perella Weinberg Real Estate acquired the property, spanning 25,300 square meters, in 2014 for 150 million euros—a notable deal in the current market.
In addition to the historic structure accommodating Fotografiska Berlin, the site will include a contemporary open-air shopping plaza and modern office complexes made of glass and steel.
Tacheles, meaning “straight talk” in Yiddish, was a renowned department store in the early 20th century but suffered damage during World War II and underwent partial demolition by East German authorities.
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, young artists were drawn to East Berlin by its affordable living costs, occupying abandoned buildings such as the rundown five-story complex on Oranienburger Street.
At its zenith as a hub of subculture, the graffiti-adorned Tacheles featured a cinema, restaurant, bar, as well as art studios and galleries, attracting around 400,000 visitors annually.
However, in 2012, artists were evicted by bailiffs and law enforcement to make room for redevelopment, marking the end of an era.
“Between 2010 and 2012, we faced threats, monetary offers to vacate, and had our electricity cut off,” recounted Bruno di Martino, a 56-year-old French artist who had a studio at Tacheles since 2006.
Waves of Displacement
“After the collapse of the communist regime in the former GDR in 1990, property ownership became ambiguous,” explained Hanno Hochmuth, a historian at the Leibniz research center in Potsdam.
These tumultuous conditions fostered creativity, making the “new” Berlin a unique draw with numerous opportunities for development.
“In East Berlin, many properties reverted to their previous owners or their descendants, often resulting in resale to real estate investors,” said Matthias Bernt, an urban planner at the Leibniz center.
Property values surged, triggering displacement from the city center, a trend that has accelerated in recent years.
Bruno di Martino was among those affected. After leaving Tacheles, he established his studio in the Friedrichshain district at another disused site, RAW, formerly owned by the German railways.
For him, the new Tacheles complex represents “a purely profit-driven project catering to the privileged few.”
“Berlin once drew tourists for its artists, underground scene, and alternative culture, but all that is at risk of vanishing,” he lamented.
It’s somewhat ironic that the Fotografiska photography museum is occupying the same building where art was once created. However, despite a thorough renovation, remnants of the graffiti and artwork have been preserved.
“We believe it’s essential to maintain the building’s spirit,” remarked Fotografiska executive chairman Yoram Roth. “It was a center of creativity. It inspired artistic expression.”
A native of West Berlin and a descendant of Holocaust survivors, Roth dismisses criticism of the city’s rampant real estate development.
“There’s a romanticized view of what transpired here after the Wall fell,” he remarked.
“People want to preserve certain aspects indefinitely. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that much of what occurred arose from profound tragedy,” including two world wars and the Cold War.
Roth contends that Berlin is moving away from its status as a “playground” of vacant lots and squatted properties.
“It’s only natural for this space to be filled with something new.”