Bunker

The Bunker is a five-story reinforced concrete structure in Berlin-Mitte, originally conceived as a wartime air raid shelter. Its massive exterior walls rise without ornament, interrupted only by sparse rectangular openings, while inside the floor plan divides into numerous small chambers with low ceilings.

Karl Bonatz designed the shelter in 1943 as protection for railway passengers seeking refuge during Allied bombing raids. After the war ended, the Red Army used the building as a prisoner depot before it later converted into a warehouse and then into a private art collection.

The building now functions as a private exhibition space for contemporary art, opening to guided groups at limited times throughout the year. Former shelter chambers display large-scale installations and works by international artists, positioned in conversation with the thick concrete walls and narrow window openings.

Access is only possible through pre-booked guided tours with limited group sizes, which must be reserved in advance. Interior spaces have no natural daylight and are reached by narrow staircases, which may be a consideration for those with limited mobility.

A glass penthouse was added on top of the flat roof, creating a sharp contrast with the gray concrete mass below. This addition was built after 2003 and serves as a private residence rarely included in tours.

Location: Bezirk Mitte von Berlin

Inception: 1943

Architects: Karl Bonatz

Architectural style: Nazi architecture

GPS coordinates: 52.52350,13.38400

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30