Since the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, Berlin has drawn people from across Germany and beyond. Urban history and migration history have been inseparable ever since. Shaped by explosive population growth, sprawling expansion, and densifying construction, Berlin is defined by its courtyards like no other city—residential courtyards, schoolyards, commercial spaces, artist studios, garden courtyards, courtyard restaurants. Each tells a different story, much like the diverse communities that inhabit them. The Stadtmuseum Berlin's special exhibition "Berliner Höfe" invites you to discover these distinctive urban spaces on the 3rd floor of the Ephraim-Palais Museum, exploring their role in Berlin's past and present.

These courtyards embody urban life in all its complexities and contradictions. They reveal how people inhabit and transform space. And they invite closer inspection: What do Berlin's courtyards tell us about the city? About ourselves? In essence: What happens in the courtyard? The distinctive character of Berlin's courtyards has long captivated graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers. The exhibition at the Ephraim-Palais brings together collection highlights with new artistic works by urban researchers Duygu Örs and Sinthujan Varatharajah, created specifically for this show. Through sound and light, they explore the sensory dimensions of the backyard courtyards they encountered in Berlin's Wedding district.

Additionally, junior curators from the Refik Veseli School in Kreuzberg, working with mentor Yella Hoepfner, are presenting their own sections within the permanent exhibition "BerlinZeit" on the first and second floors. Their personal narratives create a dialogue with objects from the museum's collection.

On view: Friday, 18 July 2025 – Sunday, 18 January 2026

www.berlin.de