ABSTRACT
Since 1990, a group of artists living in an informal settlement in the ruins of Tacheles transformed the building into an informal art centre. The art centre, called Kunsthaus Tacheles, included a small movie theatre, Cafe Zapata, studios for artists, and exhibition spaces. The transformation of the ruins was a continuous process led by the artists who occupied the building. Interventions were either pragmatic or artistic in nature. The open backside was initially left open, but a number of the rooms were gradually closed using different types of reclaimed materials. The area surrounding Tacheles went through a process of gentrification. In 1999, the plot where Tacheles was located came under the ownership of a project developer. Tacheles was among the most important art centres in Berlin with international appeal; the city council agreed to keep the art centre.
