silent green Kulturquartier

Behind the sandstone facade on Gerichtstraße in Wedding lies Berlin's first crematorium. Since 2013, it has become the silent green Kulturquartier, offering concerts, film programs, and exhibitions in the cupola hall and the underground concrete hall.

silent green Kulturquartier: from Crematorium to Cultural Venue

The building on Gerichtstraße was constructed in 1909 and 1910 according to plans by architect William Müller and was Berlin’s first crematorium. Cremations took place here from 1912 until operations ceased in the early 2000s. The listed ensemble is located on the grounds of the Gerichtstraße Urn Cemetery.

At its heart is the octagonal cupola hall with its approximately 17-meter-high dome. Symbols of the freethinker movement, such as a snake, griffins, and fire bowls, can be found in the terrazzo floor and on the walls. In 2019, the underground concrete hall was added, a large, raw space for exhibitions and events. The building received a heritage award for its careful repurposing.

Film, Music, and a Restaurant in the Side Nave

Since 2013, silent green has been a cultural quarter focusing on film, music, and moving image art. Institutions working here include the Harun Farocki Institute, the Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art, Musicboard Berlin, the label !K7, and transmediale. Concerts in the cupola hall usually cost between 29 and 37 Euros.

The MARS restaurant is located in the side nave, with a smaller version in the former gatekeeper’s lodge. Lunch, coffee, brunch, and in the evenings, drinks and snacks are served, featuring herbs and vegetables from its own rooftop garden. The main entrance at Gerichtstraße 35 is step-free, and the cupola hall and MARS are barrier-free accessible.