Mies van der Rohe Haus (Haus Lemke)
Oberseestraße 60, 13053 Berlin–Alt-Hohenschönhausen

Once the private villa of industrialists Martha and Karl Lemke, this 1932–33 Bauhaus gem was the last residential project Ludwig Mies van der Rohe completed in Germany before emigrating to the United States. Today it serves as a municipal exhibition pavilion for modern art.

Architectural Highlights

• Masterpiece of Modernism: The one-story, L-shaped building features a flat roof, charcoal-fired red brick façade, and floor-to-ceiling corner windows—hallmarks of Mies’s “less is more” philosophy.

• Interior Design: Furnishings by Mies’s atelier and Lilly Reich complement the clean lines and open plan. Original details—like custom radiators and built-in shelving—remain beautifully preserved.

• Garden & Sculpture: Designed by Karl Foerster, the surrounding garden was restored alongside a 1994 bronze sculpture, Aufsicht um die Kante by Ruth Baumann, which overlooks the Obersee.

Visiting Today

• Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11:00–17:00 (closed on Mondays and public-holiday Mondays).

• Admission: Free entry.

• Getting There:

  • Tram M5 to Oberseestraße

  • S-Bahn S8/S9 to Wartenberg, then bus 256

  • Limited on-site parking.

• Facilities: Public restrooms, small shop with architecture monographs, wheelchair-accessible entrance.

What’s On

Regular rotating exhibitions of contemporary painting, sculpture, and site-specific installations draw art lovers and architecture fans alike. Check the official website for guided-tour times and special events (lectures, film screenings, workshops).

Insider Tip

Arrive just before closing on a Sunday for a quiet stroll through the garden and a last look at the villa’s glowing façade as the sun sets over the lake. If the weather’s warm, bring a picnic to enjoy on the grass beside the sculpture—few spots in Berlin blend architectural history and lakeside serenity so perfectly.