This historic building is also at the centre of the “AM TACHELES” urban development project led by the renowned architecture firm Herzog de Meuron. This project aims to enrich the city with a new quarter consisting of a vibrant mix of residential, office, retail and cultural buildings. Virtually all of the quarter’s open spaces are already accessible and open to both tourists and locals. At its heart is the Tacheles itself, following a careful and sensitive restoration that preserved the historic façade.
The area was partially destroyed in the Second World War and gradually demolished afterwards. The last section of the building, currently under listed status, was saved thanks to an artists’ initiative.
The black lights make a striking statement and emphatically underline the building’s special character.
Since 15th September 2023, this special place has been home to the Swedish Fotografiska Museum. With sites in Stockholm, New York, Tallinn and Shanghai, the museum brings a dose of international flair to the German capital’s cultural scene. Across 5,500 square metres of space, art and photography lovers can dive into changing photo exhibitions from both well-know and up-and-coming artists, or take part in a diverse array of cultural events.
The Fotografiska is open until late into the night, giving visitors not just an artistic experience, but also a culinary one. While the Restaurant Verōnika offers up tasty meals to fuel the evening, the Clara 360-degree rooftop bar lets visitors soak up the view of the pulsating Mitte district with a refreshing drink or exotic cocktail in hand.
Inside the building, the walls of the stairwell tell stories of bygone days, covered in graffiti and old posters whose layers bear witness to the past. Even the rusty doors are still standing, as is the listed façade. These extraordinary features posed a major challenge when designing the spaces, particularly when planning a suitable lighting scheme.
TRILUX accepted the challenge of this ambitious project and developed a series of impressive custom solutions tailored precisely to the needs of this sensitive environment. So-Tube lights were fitted in two stairwells, mounted on a support structure running through the centre of the stairs. Consisting of 18 and 16 fluorescent tubes respectively, they take the form of a spiral rising upwards. This special configuration is called PIPE.
As well as providing high-quality light, its sculpted appearance also makes a striking statement that pairs well with the stripped-back industrial look. Specially designed So-Tube lights were also fitted in the corridors, combined with focusable spotlights from the TWINGLE series installed on the walls and ceilings. The same spotlights are also used behind the entrance area.
The highlight among the lights is the striking chandelier. This impressive centrepiece consists of eight So-Tube lights arranged around a centrally suspended tube. The colour of the lights can also be adjusted to match the mood and time of day. By combining function and aesthetics, these solutions let visitors literally see the Tacheles in a new light, allowing the building’s unmistakeable identity to harmoniously combine the past and the present.
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Sandra and Leo visited the historic building and explored it with Sophia Klees (M.A. Light Design, jack be nimble). Watch the vlog to see what they discovered.
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