Berlin

Am Tacheles

History, Architecture, and Lighting Design

In the heart of Berlin, on Oranienburger Straße, stands the historic building known as Am Tacheles. Built between 1907 and 1908 as Friedrichstraßenpassage, a cutting-edge shopping center, the building underwent numerous transformations during the 20th century. In 1990, it was occupied by a collective of artists who transformed it into an alternative cultural center, a symbol of freedom and creativity.

In 2023, the Am Tacheles redevelopment project, designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Studio Aisslinger, breathed new life into this iconic space, integrating new residential, commercial, and cultural functions while preserving the historic soul of the building. Inside, the Fotografiska museum has found its Berlin home, hosting contemporary photography exhibitions in an architectural setting that blends past and present.

The Lighting Project: History and Contemporary Light

The lighting concept for Am Tacheles was developed by the Berlin-based studio Jack Be Nimble, which won this year's German Lighting Design Prize 2025 for its design of Fotografiska's new Berlin headquarters.

The aim was to enhance the building's unique identity, telling its story through light and structuring the spaces in a clear and evocative way.

The project uses carefully selected DGA products to blend harmoniously into the historic interiors and new functional areas. Cometa NGL e Cometa Q8 mark out the spaces, illuminating corners, shelves and display surfaces with continuous, uniform light. Completing the concept are the recessed Ariel In&Out m e Nano Tini i versatile and high-performance, while Armonia illuminates the shelves with diffuse and homogeneous light. The integrated approach allows the intensity and direction of light to be modulated, creating different atmospheres depending on the function of the space and the desired experience.

Am Tacheles demonstrates how light can enhance history, transforming historic spaces into functional, atmospheric and meaningful environments. Thanks to DGA solutions and the collaboration with Jack Be Nimble the building continues to stand out as a cultural and artistic landmark in Berlin, offering an immersive experience that combines design, light and architecture.