Berlin: The Gay Districts: Kreuzberg – Tempodrome

The new Tempodrom at Anhalter Bahnhof is one of the boldest constructions of recent years. The Tempodrom is a cultural arena that offers a varied and constantly-changing programme of events. Its reputation has by now spread far beyond Berlin.
The Tempodrom – in its original manifestation, a small circus tent – was founded by Irene Moessinger on May 1, 1980.
Originally located on »Potsdamer Platz, the Tempodrom upped sticks and moved to Tiergarten, where it remained for a long time.
The Tempodrom soon gained a strong reputation for its concerts and live theatre, and the overall programme was characterised by a lively and imaginative mixture of genres.
The World Music festival "Heimatklänge" – originally open-air and free of charge – still draws thousands of fans every year.
Due to the government's relocation to Berlin and its need for new building-space, the Tempodrom was forced to leave its home in Tiergarten at the beginning of the Nineties.
While the new Tempodrom was under construction at Anhalter Bahnhof, the circus tent moved to the Postbahnhof in the eastern district of Friedrichshain.
The new building at Anhalter Bahnhof was a dynamic re-interpretation of the original tent-form – in white, reinforced concrete.
This daring construction is reminiscent of the forms drafted by expressionist architects in the Twenties.Under the circus roof are two arenas, providing space for events as disparate as concerts, plays, revues, shows, circuses and even sporting events.