The Café Tiergarten is located on the ground floor of the listed Swedish house in Berlin's Hansaviertel – lovingly restored with the original color tones, determined by a restorer and furnished with design classics from architects such as Egon Eiermann and Alvar Aalto, who themselves built in the district.

The "new" Hansaviertel was built in 1957 as part of the International Building Exhibition "The City of Tomorrow"—a visionary project intended to give Berlin a new face after the war. Renowned architects such as Oscar Niemeyer, Alvar Aalto, Walter Gropius, Arne Jacobsen, and many others designed a vibrant, modern quarter surrounded by greenery, characterized by optimistic ideas for contemporary urban living.

To this day, the Hansaviertel remains a unique architectural ensemble – a symbol of new beginnings, internationalism, and social housing. At the same time, it is a place full of contrasts and stories: a blend of iconic architecture, everyday life, and cultural niches.

The premises of our café were originally occupied by the large Berlin bakery Wittler, which was considered the largest bread producer in Europe in the 1920s. The company's history also reflects German history – including dark chapters: During the Nazi era, Wittler profited from close ties to the regime and supplied, among other things, the 1936 Olympic Games. After the war, the company initially survived, but had to close in the 1980s. The premises were then lovingly run as a coffee house with many regular customers for decades, until they stood empty for several years.

Through a neighbor's contact, we got in touch with the owner of the house two years ago. When the "For Rent" sign finally appeared in the fall of 2024, it was clear to us: We wanted to bring this special place back to life – open, inviting, with a sense of quality and history.

The ground floor is used for commercial purposes and offers space for shops, medical practices, and restaurants. From the first floor upwards, there are eight floors, each with eight nearly identical four-room apartments. Typical of Scandinavian architecture of the period is the concept of the "Allraum," a bright, central, multifunctional room in each apartment.

The innovative features upon completion included:

• Triple glazing for sound and heat insulation
• Underfloor heating (still works today)
• Flexible floor plans with movable walls
• Fitted kitchens with refrigerator and electric stove

Urban planning significance

The Swedish House, together with the neighboring Niemeyer House, forms the urban gateway to the Hansaviertel district. The Interbau 1957 was an international experiment in social housing. World-renowned architects such as Walter Gropius, Alvar Aalto, and Oscar Niemeyer designed modern residential buildings here, focusing on light, air, greenery, and functionality.

Renovation and monument preservation

Concrete corrosion was already evident in the 1980s. A comprehensive renovation, based on an expert report from 2000, restored the structural safety and original design. Particular attention was paid to restoring the original color scheme and the characteristic balcony and arcade geometry.

Usage today

The Swedish House now houses, among other things:

• Café Tiergarten
• Long Distance Running Center
• Music studio “ Killing A Friend ”
• Nofretete Beauty Institute
• Dental practice of Dr. Alexandros Jussios

Altonaer Straße was named in 1879 after the town of Altona near Hamburg. Today, it connects the Großer Stern (Great Star) roundabout with the Hansabrücke (Hansa Bridge). The Hansaviertel (Hansa Quarter) was heavily damaged during the Second World War. The Schwedenhaus (Swedish House) now stands on a site where residential buildings previously stood – several Jewish residents were deported and murdered from here.

Stumbling stones in front of the building commemorate, among other things:

• Kurt and Lea Bach, deported in 1942, murdered in Auschwitz
• Leo, Johanna and Hans Jürgen Kraft, deported in 1941, murdered in Minsk
• Jeannette Tenenbaum, deported in 1938, murdered in Treblinka