Nicolaihaus, Baroque residential building in Berlin-Mitte, Germany.
Nicolaihaus is a baroque residential building in Berlin-Mitte featuring a symmetrical facade, two stories, and a central entrance beneath a gabled roof. It is surrounded by inner courtyard wings that give the structure the typical Berlin courtyard configuration.
The building dates from 1670 and underwent major transformation into a palace between 1710 and 1711. Later modifications were made by architect Carl Friedrich Zelter.
The building served as a gathering place where Berlin's writers, publishers, and thinkers met to exchange ideas and discuss their work. This role as a center for intellectual exchange shaped the house throughout its history.
The building welcomes visitors on the first and third Sunday of each month. Comfortable shoes are recommended since some areas including the courtyard and staircases have uneven surfaces.
Inside the house is a multimedia city model showing the architectural changes of Berlin's Spreeinsel since 1945. This display reveals how much this central district has transformed over the decades.
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