Berlin Philharmonie

The Berliner Philharmonie at Herbert-von-Karajan-Straße 1, part of the Kulturforum, is the home of the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic. Built to plans by the architect Hans Scharoun between 1960 and 1963, it opened on October 15, 1963. Its tent-like, organically curving form counts as a key work of postwar modernism and has shaped the look of Berlin's concert life ever since.

Inside, Scharoun turned the Philharmonie into the model for modern concert halls worldwide. Under the so-called vineyard principle, the audience sits in terraced blocks rising all around a centrally placed orchestra, creating an unusual closeness between musicians and listeners. The main hall seats roughly 2,250 and is known for its exceptional acoustics. The large organ, built by the Berlin workshop of Karl Schuke, was completed in 1965. From 1984 to 1987, Edgar Wisniewski added the neighboring chamber music hall with about 1,136 seats, following Scharoun's concept.

There are several ways to experience the building: tickets for the Berlin Philharmonic and visiting orchestras, architecture tours of the building, or the regular free lunchtime concerts in the foyer. The Philharmonie sits in the middle of the Kulturforum next to the Neue Nationalgalerie and the state library, and pairs easily with a visit to the Tiergarten or Potsdamer Platz. Current schedules and tickets are on the hall's official website.