Hackesche Höfe, Berlin

My friend Meika introduced us to this ver very interesting area. I was amazed at the interesting Scheunenviertel quarter of Berlin where you will find lovely linked courtyards, which have been beautifully restored over the years.

The main one is Hackesche Hofe, it consists of eight linked courtyards which today is filled with trendy cafes, galleries, shops and theatres. She told us that during the cold war, the more affluent people lived in the main one, and as your status declined, you moved further back into the maze of courtyards and apartments. Hof 1 (which is the 1st one or main buildings) is decorated with lovely patterned Art Nouveau tiles.

A very interesting place to visit, do not miss it on your next trip to Berlin!

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The Hackesche Höfe is a popular tourist destination with its 8 interconnecting courtyards. The whole area has been renovated and modernised in recent years. The various buildings are used for arts, culture, housing, business, cafes and restaurants.

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This newly renovated backyard-stretch with its interesting history have been praised by many VT:ers, so I was looking forward to seeing it. What disappointment! Most of the yards left me indifferent, or no, indifferent and a little angry actually to find but orderly plain facades, flowers and metal sculptures - or not. It felt a little like a mall, where all sensations are polished down to plainness. Fortunately, I got to see and experience so many other things, buildings, galleries, shops and restaurants close by, so my frustration was soon over.

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One of Berlin's premier tourist destinations, these 8 restored linked courtyards feature restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and theaters in an historic setting often forgotten. The area was originally outside the Berlin walls, a suburb known as Spandauer Vorstadt. In 1733, new walls enclosed the settlement and a market was built by city commander Count van Hacke. The eastern reaches were occupied by many Eastern European Jews, who later spread west into the Oranienburger Strasse area. The original and expanded areas were called the "barn district". Around 1900, a businessman named Quilitz purchased enough land to build an 8 courtyard complex of apartments, factories, and commercial buildings, intended for upscale occupancy. Eventually Jewish ownership prior to WWII led to a large number of Jewish occupants, many of whom would deported and killed during the war.
After the war, GDR maintenance was minimal and the complex fell into serious disrepair. Reconstruction began in 1996, several years after the Potsdamer Platz area, and again an upscale clientele visits and lives in the courtyard complex. Certain sections have been repaired with an eye toward the past, most notably the first courtyard done in Art Nouveau style according to the original plans of the Jugenstil style architect August Endell. Only the outer facade has been modernized. The complex is crowded day and night, with an active bar scene and theater crowd in the evening hours. As the images demonstrate, this is a most attractive complex.

Although Hackesche Höfe are heavily praised, and therefore I did not want to miss them, I was a little disappointed. Not really – but I had expected more.

They are eight or nine restored commercial courtyards from the early 20th century (1905 to 1907), and were designed in the Art Noveau style. Now they host expensive restaurants, expensive cafés, expensive shops, expensive galleries, and a cute little cinema. They are linked, and you can walk from courtyard to courtyard through arches in the buildings. From the street you would not expect such a maize of courtyards.

The first courtyard, hidden behind a black marble façade, is absolutely spectacular. It is tiled with glazed tiles up to the roofs, the tiles laid in colourful geometric patterns. But this was the disappointment. Your expectations are raised by this fantastic piece of architecture, you expect more miraculous creations – but it does not get better, the first courtyard is already the highlight, and crowded by delighted tourists.

What makes the other courtyards nice is the lot of vegetation around established trees – a little green haven in the middle of a huge city.

This historic courtyard area was once quite shabby and rundown but, like much of Berlin, has been smartened up and is now colourful, trendy, arty and full of great shops and nice cafes and considered by many to be the heart of Berlin's art scene.

Definitely worth having a look around!

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This historical shopping area is really worth a visit, even if you have no intention to shop. The architecture is stunning: an interconnected series of courtyards with beautiful ceramic facades, wonderfully restored during the last decade.

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In the interesting Scheunenviertel quarter of Berlin you will find a series of lovely linked courtyards, which have been beautifully restored over the years.

The main one is Hackesche Hofe, which consists of eight linked courtyards filled with trendy cafes, galleries, shops and theatres. These courtyards were designed in the early 1900's. The first courtyard's (Hof 1) buildings are decorated with lovely patterned Art Nouveau tiles. In other courtyards you can see stylish apartments looking over the garden like interior.

Right next to Hackesche Hofe is Rosenhofe. This pretty courtyard features a sunken rose garden and sculptured metal decorations which are supposed to look like part of the surrounding greenery.

Close by you will find the narrow Sophienstrasse arcade which has been lovingly restored to its former late 18th century glory. Here you can check out a number of arts and crafts shops.

We really enjoyed walking through the courtyards and browsing in the shops and galleries.