Torstrasse 166

Defining space is difficult, especially in a city like Berlin where history has affected the architecture and landscape in a very literal way. Bombed, divided and now gentrified, Berlin-Mitte seems to be ever changing. In an effort to capture the “Mitte of now,” three of Berlin’s cultural captains—producer Ralf Schmerberg, gallerist Jaana Prüss and artist Peter Weber—have curated an exhibition, with the support of Hornbach, in a Mitte apartment building.

Understanding the city in flux, the three curators chose the broad idea of “imagination” as a starting point. With this, and the architecture of the apartment building, they invited 12 international artists to create site-specific installations in each apartment. The artists took the prompt and ran.

This isn’t the typical paint job: Rooms explode with banging percussion, giant plastic bubbles, olfactory experiences, thread mazes, neon toys and much more. Each apartment is an exhibition unto itself—no knocking necessary, just stop by. We guide you through the 12 decked-out pads in this art house funhouse, kickstarted by the opening party. For more information on the project click here.

Unlike has the Hornbach remodel under our belts, we’re just waiting on the whole twelve apartments part.

Places in this guide

Culture Berlin 1
raumlaborberlin's apartment DDR living reimagined
The architectural collective raumlaborberlin explores issues in contemporary architecture outside of sheet-rock and insulation. With an investment in urban renewal, architectural design and interactive environments, the… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Chiharu Shiota's apartment Web footed
Japan-born, Berlin-based artist Chiharu Shiota creates dream-like installations that, through her use of materials, play with weight and lightness. Threads heavily woven around objects such as pianos and human bodies question the… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Laura Kikauka's apartment My Little Pony meets Invisible Man
Canadian artist Laura Kikauka is known for her extensive collecting habits and her ability to take junk objects and spin them into kitschy, over-the-top installations. Many of her installations, including the two (one in Meanford,… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Mosermeyer's apartment Sound-wave surfing
The collaborative duo of Mosermeyer—instrument-maker and sound-researcher Rudolf Moser and composer Christian Mauer—create performances and sound installations in addition to their compositional work for films, advertising… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Sissel Tolaas's apartment
Jean-Baptiste Grenouille from Patrick Süsskind’s novel Perfume might have found a kindred spirit in Sissel Tolaas. The Norwegian scent artist is more like an archivist, traveling around the world in search of memories, stories,… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Christine Rebet's apartment
Stage-designer and choreographer Christine Rebet explores the symbols and metaphors of the unconscious and how memory gaps are created and maintained. Through her installations, Rebet unravels contrasting stories in order to better… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Harald Smykla's apartment Lightbulb landscapes
London-based, German-born artist Harald Smykla uses overhead projectors in combination with drawn images to create interactive spacial and architectural installations.
Smykla installs his projector in his Torstrasse 166 apartment,… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Plastique Fantastique's apartment Double bubble
Plastique Fantastique—a Berlin-based collective comprised of Marco Canevacci and Markus Wüste—create inflated architecture in which to experience video and sound installations. Their floating bubbles push the… read more
Shop Berlin 1
Souzihaas' apartment Children at work
Artist and stylist Souzihaas collaborated with 200 children from Berlin to fully explore the potential of imagination. Together they have created a space that continually expands and moves forward with large sculptures and other works.
Culture Berlin 1
Manfred Reuter's apartment A slice of life
Japan may have recently passed mandatory weight-regulation laws, but Manfred Reuter is obsessed its extremes: Sumo wrestling and anorexia. Playing with these themes, his work often explores ideas of minimizing space and the… read more
Culture Berlin 1
(e.) Twin Gabriel's apartment Apartment as rabbit hole
The two Berlin artists, Else Gabriel and Ulf Wrede, who comprise the collaborative duo of (e.) Twin Gabriel, explore themes of gender roles, biological processes and questions of perception and visual communication in a media… read more
Culture Berlin 1
Franz Höfner and Harry Sachs' apartment Rebuilding history
The artistic team of Franz Höfner and Harry Sachs (often referred to under the name, Neubau) are best known for their large-scale installations and video works that address functioning cultural contradictions.
Using… read more
Culture Berlin 1
The Salon at Torstrasse166 Exclusive art events
The salon at the temporary art exhibition, Torstrasse, hosts all associated events. Most things that occur are by invitation only—get your name on the list—you wouldn’t want to miss a Cookies party!

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