studio aisslinger

Berlin, in September 2023: studio aisslinger has planned the interior design of the new Fotografiska Museum Berlin. The international photography centre will open on 14 September 2023 in the rooms of the former Kunsthaus Tacheles on Oranienburger Straße in the Mitte district. It is the fourth location of the private photo museum after Stockholm, Tallinn and New York. Multiple rooms for exhibitions, events and gastronomy have been created on the 5,500 square metre site, including a restaurant, two bars, a café, a bakery, a shop and a ballroom. Further areas are intended for conferences and co-working. Fotografiska thus makes use of all the rooms of the Tacheles, from the ground floor to the five upper floors and the roof terrace. studio aisslinger has designed the interior as a liaison of old and new, in which new layers have been added to the historical features. Not only the building, which originally opened as a department store in 1909, is listed. The graffiti that was created from 1990 to 2012 during the site’s tenure as Kunsthaus Tacheles was likewise not permitted to be damaged. The interior manages to maintain a balance between the old and the new. Particular care was taken where traces of the past are concerned. The new design does not compete with the patina of the building. However, it does not create a neutral shell, but rather complements the rough and partly wild charm of the building with a mixture of homely comfort and purist elements. Wood and natural stone meet exposed concrete and steel. Decorative fabrics, fluffy velvet and numerous plants add a sensual element. The new space is meant to be a home to culture, culinary delights and events alike. Unlike classic museums, Fotografiska Berlin stays open until 11 pm. Visitors can therefore combine the exhibition tour with a visit to a restaurant or bar – whether before or after. A bakery, a café and a shop on the ground floor open up the building to the city and create a connection with the neighbourhood. Thanks to the hybrid utilisation concept, the private museum can sustain itself without relying on public funding. This unique location in Berlin, which symbolises the spirit and creative energy of the post-reunification era like no other, is thus being brought to new life. „We want to look ahead to the future whilst embracing the past. And to do so in a casual way. That is very Berlin“ , says Werner Aisslinger.

History of the Fotografiska Tacheles building

Shortly before its scheduled demolition in February 1990, the “Tacheles” artists’ initiative occupied the remnants of the building on the corner of Oranienburger Straße and Friedrichstraße. Originally inaugurated in 1909 as the Friedrichstraße Passage, the building was thereby saved from its impending destruction and remains standing to this day. Following partial demolition in the 1980s, the once second-largest shopping arcade in Berlin had devolved into little more than a sad remnant of overly ambitious department store projects from the early 20th century. Approximately fifteen years after its initial grand opening, AEG had repurposed the department stores, which had faced bankruptcy twice in the interim, renaming them as the “House of Technology”. Subsequently, during the National Socialist era, both the German Labour Front and the SS utilised it as one of their headquarters. In the GDR era, the Free German Trade Union Federation eventually took possession of the building, which, despite war-related damage, remained in relatively good condition. However, over the ensuing years, it steadily deteriorated. By the late 1960s andmid-1970s, two structural assessments recommended demolition, which ultimatelycommenced in 1980. Only the occupation of the remaining structure by the artistsof the Tacheles group thwarted its scheduled demolition on February 13, 1990.Over time, the group‘s name, “Tacheles” – originally a music ensemble – becamesynonymous with the building itself, transforming the former temple of consumerisminto a space for open expression, dialogue, and debate.

The phase before Fotografiska

Until 2012, Tacheles was a cultural centre of the post-reunification era. It housedartists‘ studios, exhibition spaces, an art-house cinema, and two spacious halls forconcerts, readings, and theatre performances, rendering it an iconic symbol of1990s Berlin. Yet, the building‘s long-term purpose remained uncertain. Since itsfinal sale in 2014, efforts have been underway to breathe new life into the complex,accompanied by the presentation of an appealing long-term utilisation plan.Throughout this process, the existing structure has been preserved. This preservationextends beyond the architectural remnants of the original building and includes thevestiges of modifications made during its various incarnations throughout the 20thcentury. Notably, many walls and doors bear intricate graffiti, now designated as protected historic artifacts.

The redesign

The task and mission assigned to studio aisslinger was to establish a bridge betweenthe vestiges and echoes of this site‘s unique history and the burgeoning new era.Instead of pitting the past against the future, both were deemed equally essentialin creating the special atmosphere of the new Tacheles. The historical elementswere not erased, covered up, eliminated, or assimilated to the point of obscurity.Instead, the goal was to cultivate a fruitful heterogeneity, where the diverse facets ofthis extraordinary location would offer a meaningful and immersive experience for visitors.

A heterogenous entity

The concept devised by studio aisslinger for the areas and spaces used byFotografiska essentially envisions a deep connection between the new structuresand the existing substance, without attempting to merge the two. Rather, akin tothe grafting technique employed in viticulture, the aim is to form a heterogeneousentity, the result of which is the refinement of the whole whilst preserving the distinctidentities of the parts.

A concept of layers

By weaving together different layers that never completely overlap, studio aisslingercreates a space with a unique atmosphere born from the interplay between the oldand the new, the existing and the added – creating a convergence of past, present andfuture. The site’s rich historical significance as a listed building forms the foundationin and upon which layers of new material surfaces, iconic furniture and site-specificstyling are added, creating a spatial experience across different time periods – asa kind of walk-in collage. The existing is not erased, but enriched and expanded,preserving the different layers of history. In this way, the building’s aura is broughtback to life and opened up to the present and the future.

Storytelling & Heritage

In recent years, the narrative aspects of objects and spaces have taken on a newfoundimportance. Today, no object or architectural project can do without its own excitingnarrative. Storytelling has the capacity to transform the mere object or space intoone imbued with a life story, an authentic and self-aware entity replete with historicalallusions and a strong local connection. At Fotografiska Museum, storytelling is anintrinsic part of its heritage, converted into a new urban style through creative designand styling aesthetics.

Life cycles and sustainability

The design philosophy for all rooms adheres to the principle of longevity – Fotografiskadoes not see itself as a transient phenomenon but as an enduring contributor to theinternational cultural community. All bespoke furniture and interiors are thereforehandcrafted from durable local materials with a pure design language that willremain aesthetically authentic for decades to come.

Experiential architecture

In an era dominated by an increasingly flawless digital world, there is growingnostalgia for genuine haptic and analogue spaces that enable real, social contactsas a counterbalance to the virtual. The quality in design lies above all in mergingmaterials, textures, volumes, arts, artwork and media.Digitalisation has made online shopping and staying within the confines of ourhomes all too easy, leading to a disconnection from the real world. Public spacesmust undergo change, reinvent themselves as venues that offer unforgettable,immersive experiences for their visitors.