Hackesche Höfe, Art Nouveau courtyard complex in Mitte, Berlin, Germany
Hackesche Höfe is a complex of eight interconnected courtyards between Rosenthaler Straße and Sophienstraße, entered through an arched passage at Rosenthaler Straße 40. The first courtyard, designed by August Endell, has a tall facade of polychrome glazed brick with white-and-blue tile panels and gold lettering across the lower windows. The courtyards mix residential, commercial and cultural uses.
The Quilitz heirs demolished the old buildings in 1905 and had architect Kurt Berndt build Germany's largest residential and commercial courtyard complex in 1906/07, in the spirit of the life-reform movement. The courtyards opened on 23 September 1906. The first courtyard was designed as a festival hall tract, the second and third held factory floors, and around 80 flats had balconies, bathrooms and central heating.
Art performances and smaller cultural events happen regularly in the courtyards, turning the space into a meeting point for the neighborhood. You can see how artists and craftspeople use the rooms and shape the area as a creative hub.
The complex houses about 40 shops, restaurants, galleries, and theaters with independent operating hours that vary by establishment. It is best explored on foot during the day by simply walking from courtyard to courtyard and discovering what each offers.
August Endell designed the first courtyard with particularly elaborate ceramic decorations showing floral and wave patterns. These decorated facades are among Berlin's finest examples of Art Nouveau design.
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