The Hackeschen Höfe: A look at Berlin's hidden history!

The Hackeschen Höfe: A look at Berlin's hidden history!

Hackesche Höfe, 10178 Berlin, Deutschland - The Hackeschen Höfe in Berlin-Mitte, a fascinating ensemble, attract around 5000 visitors every day. But this morning the charm of the historical facility is disturbed by an unpleasant smell that comes from a disposal vehicle in the second courtyard. While the pump is roaring and the air smells uncomfortably, the city chroniclers Klaus Bädicker and Stefan Wolski report on the changeable times of this place, which was once a proletarian quarter.

Bädicker, 79 years old, is a lively storyteller who shows the Hackescher Höfe in a completely different light with his photographs from the past. With his pictures from the 1980s and early reunification times, he documents the change of the quarter, which was built in 1905 and testifies to the history of Berlin. Wolski, who played here as a child, describes his memories of the modest conditions in the GDR, where cold water and the absence of bathrooms were the norm.

a historical heir

The Hackeschen Höfe, once the largest residential and commercial base in Germany, were reopened in 1997 after elaborate renovation work. Today they house a variety, a cinema and numerous shops. The 26 new exhibition boards, which show current photographs and historical recordings, contribute to the formation of consciousness about the history of this unique place. David Kastner, the manager of the farms, emphasizes the importance of preserving this historically valuable place in its quality.

Although the new beauty of the farms attracts many visitors, there are also voices that skeptically look at the deep change of the quarter. Wolski, who looks back at his childhood, is not sure whether he still feels at home in this modern environment. Nevertheless, it turns out that the exhibition and the stories of the two men keep the legacy of this historical place alive and present the fascinating history of the Hackescher Höfe in an impressive way.