Berlin courtyards

Berlin's courtyards have a lot to tell. At least since the industrial revolution in the 19th century, Berlin has been a magnet for people from other regions of Germany and from other countries. The history of the city has therefore always been a history of migration.


Due to enormous population growth, spatial expansion and structural densification, Berlin is characterized by courtyards like no other city - whether as residential courtyards, schoolyards, commercial courtyards, studio courtyards, courtyard gardens or courtyard restaurants. their history is as diverse as the people who live in them. With the special exhibition "Berlin Courtyards" on the 3rd floor of the Ephraim-Palais Museum, the Stadtmuseum Berlin invites you to explore these urban spaces between past and present.


The courtyards are exemplary of urban coexistence with all its contradictions. They show how people shape space. And they encourage us to take a closer look: What can courtyards tell us about Berlin? What about ourselves? In short: What is going on in the courtyard?


Graphics, photography and history

The special atmosphere of Berlin's courtyards has repeatedly inspired graphic artists, illustrators and photographers to create images. In the exhibition, highlights from the museum collection meet the artistic works of urban researchers Duygu Örs and Sinthujan Varatharajah, which were created especially for "Berliner Höfe". Using sounds and light, they deal with different sensory impressions from backyards that Örs and Varatharajah encountered in Wedding.


In addition, the junior curators from the Refik Veseli School in Kreuzberg and their mentor Yella Hoepfner present their own spaces in the permanent exhibition "BerlinZEIT" on the first and second floors of the museum. Their individual stories interact with objects from the collection.


Participate until July 1, 2025

You are also in demand: our photo call "Berlin now!" invites you to send in your personal pictures of the Berlin courtyards. This will create new, unexpected views of seemingly everyday places.



Opening on July 17, 2025

The new special exhibition at the Museum Ephraim-Palais opens with Berlin courtly atmosphere and barrel organ music.

The curators and artists of the special exhibition will be present at the opening. Antonia Moldenhauer (research trainee at the Stadtmuseum Berlin) will interview them about the creation of the exhibition. The junior curators will also provide insights into their contributions.

Meeting point: Salon (ground floor)