Schinkel Pavillon

Built in 1969, the Schinkel Pavillon squats elegantly in the grounds of the former Kronprinzenpalais (Crown Prince’s Palace) off Unter den Linden in Mitte. The building itself is an architectural oddity, an octagonal room with floor-to-ceiling windows, affording panoramic views of central Berlin. But impeding your views of the Cathedral, Alexanderplatz and Unter der Linden's imposing building will be some of the most esoteric and cutting-edge art to be seen in town. For Schinkel Pavillon is an art institution with a tendency to show art from the more cerebral end of the spectrum. Curator in residence Nina Pohl offers up a dense programme of contemporary sculpture, installation, and media art, much of which is made with the space's unique DDR-era architecture in mind, for maximum impact. Amongst those who have had shows at Schinkel Pavillon over the past few years are Paul McCarthy, Cyprian Gaillard, Mike Kelley and Thomas Hirschhorn.