Ballhaus Wedding

Hidden within Berlin’s vibrant Gesundbrunnen district, the Ballhaus Wedding whispers tales of a bygone era. Built in 1899 as part of a restaurant, the Ballhaus Wedding originally served as the “Ballsaal”. This single-story structure, nestled in the courtyard, boasted a grand main hall, smaller rooms for cloakrooms and restrooms, a cozy bar, and even a bowling alley. Imagine the scene: glittering multi-armed chandeliers, adorned with Murano glass, casting a warm glow upon the dancers below. The Ballhaus Wedding witnessed the exuberance of the Weimar Republic, hosting countless dances and lively entertainment. After World War II, the Ballhaus Wedding faced a period of decline. The bowling alley was removed, replaced by a garden. A group of motorcycle rockers later took up residence, using one side for their mechanical pursuits and the other for rocking concerts. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Sabine Atzberger, a visionary from Munich, rescued the Ballhaus Wedding from further decay. Together with her husband, she embarked on a meticulous restoration. The 1990s and 2000s saw photographers Sascha Kramer and André Giogoli transform the winter garden, laying parquet flooring from Babelsberg film studios, the very floor where Marlene Dietrich danced in “The Blue Angel”. From the mid-2000s until 2021, the Ballhaus Wedding operated as the “Ballsaal Studio”, hosting weddings, celebrations, photoshoots, and even film scenes for movies like Til Schweiger’s “Zweiohrküken” and Karoline Herfurth’s “Wunderschön”. The Berlin Konzerthausorchester also graced the hall with their music. The building even saw a reunion of its restaurant area, previously used as an apartment, with the main ballroom. In 2022, a new chapter began. Djamila Rempel and Robert Bittner secured a long-term lease, envisioning the Ballhaus Wedding as a vibrant cultural hub. A crowdfunding campaign raised approximately 20,000 euros to support this transformation. Today, the Ballhaus Wedding thrives as a dynamic space, hosting theater productions, variété shows, concerts, political salons, film premieres, readings, art exhibitions, and grand celebrations. The Ballhaus Wedding, forever etched in the heart of Berlin, continues to evolve, a testament to its enduring charm and the passionate individuals who have breathed life into its walls.