A prefabricated building in Friedrichshain, not far from Ostbahnhof, where Paul lives in The Legend of Paul and Paula, the cult film by DEFA from 1973. Opposite was Paula's old building, which today houses a supermarket, and on Rummelsburger See are the Paul-and-Paula-Ufer along with the bench for lovers, where the scene with the freight barge was filmed.
A Prefabricated Building in Friedrichshain
Singerstraße 51 is located in Friedrichshain, not far from Ostbahnhof, and looks like many addresses in this area: a prefabricated building, a house entrance, parking spaces in front, and a few trees. Ostbahnhof can be reached on foot in a few minutes, tram M10 and several bus lines stop nearby, and Karl-Marx-Allee begins directly to the north. The reason why this particular house is on a list of Berlin film locations is due to a 1973 film: The Legend of Paul and Paula. Paul lives in this exact prefabricated building. In the GDR, such a new building was a coveted place to live and a status symbol, and the film shows this without any irony, as a natural rise to district heating, a bathroom, and an elevator. Filming took place right in the inhabited house, which gives the scenes their casualness, and many background details are simply what was already there. The surrounding district has changed significantly since then, but the building itself still stands as it did back then.
From the House Entrance to the Rummelsburger Shore
In the story, Paula lives opposite in an old building, which today houses a supermarket. Those who want to follow the traces further should go to Rummelsburger See: There you will find the Paul-and-Paula-Ufer, where the famous scene with the freight barge was filmed, and for lovers, there is a Paul-and-Paula-Bench. The film is one of DEFA’s most-watched productions and has retained its cult status to this day, partly because it portrays everyday life between new builds and demolition houses more accurately than most works of its time. For the city, this address is therefore more than just a film set; it is a pilgrimage site for an audience that grew up with the film. However, only the facade can be visited, as the house has remained a normal residential building. There is no plaque or sign; one must know the house number. This is precisely what makes the visit appealing: it is not an attraction, but an everyday place that has slipped into the memory of an entire generation through a film.
Top10 Redaktion
Erfahrungsbericht vom 26.10.2026
Viewing
Only from the outside. The house is a normal residential building; there's nothing to see inside.
Location
Singerstraße 51 in Friedrichshain, a few minutes from Ostbahnhof.
Public Transport
S-Bahn and regional trains to Ostbahnhof, tram M10 and several bus lines nearby.
Film Connection
The Legend of Paul and Paula from 1973. Paul's apartment is in this house.
Other Filming Locations
Paula's old building was opposite, now a supermarket. On Rummelsburger See are the Paul-and-Paula-Ufer and the Paul-and-Paula-Bank.
Good to know
There is no plaque or sign on site; you need to know the house number.
Consideration
People live in the house. Therefore, please only take photos from the street.
Opening Hours
- no opening hours: as it is a residential building
Address
Singerstraße 51, 10243 Berlin, Deutschland
