Diplomatic Quarter / Embassy District

On the Southern border of Berlin’s beautiful Tiergarten lies Berlin’s embassy district, where diplomatic representations from countries all over the world share a postcode. Most were built between 1999 and 2003, and each boasts unique design features which nod to the traditions of their country whilst adding an element of modern design. Architecture buffs will love exploring this district.

This area to the West of Potsdamer Platz became the place for the rich of Berlin to build villas and mansions in the late 19^th century. By the early 1930’s, over 70% of embassies in Berlin were situated here. In 1938, the Nazis officially declared this area the ‘Diplomatic Quarter’. As former allies, they allowed Italy, Spain and Japan to build monumental embassies in the area first. During WWII, the area was almost completely destroyed. When the capital of West Germany became Bonn in 1950, the few remaining buildings were left to crumble.

Begin your walk in Tiergarten near Café am Neuen See. Here you will find the enormous Spanish embassy with its heavy concrete construction. Continue along Thomas-Dehler-Straβe, taking in the luxurious architecture in this part of the city. Rounding the corner onto Stülerstraβe, you can’t miss the breath-taking Pan Nordic complex, comprising five embassies – those of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The exterior is reminiscent of a Viking longship, with dark maple wood planks, curved green copper panelling and shutters the colour of sea glass.

Continuing along the street, the United Arab Emirates embassy has a stunning ornate façade, with delicate metalwork which reflects the sun. A little further along are the Italian and Japanese embassies, located on Hiroshimastraβe. The impressive Italian embassy has a classical pink and white painted façade, and the Japanese opposite has flowering cherry trees in the garden which are stunning in spring. Continue to the sandstone-clad embassy of Turkey. It uses a traditional Islamic Girih pattern as a nod to Turkish art, and also utilises copper and glass to bring the design up to date. Next door is the embassy of South Africa, the first to be built after the end of apartheid in 1994. The warm yellow sandstone façade was quarried near Johannesburg. Earthy red sandstone transported from Rajasthan was used for the façade of the adjacent Indian embassy. The rich colour is interrupted by blocks of steel and shimmering glass, creating a wonderful contrast of textures.

Finish your walk with a stroll through tranquil Tiergarten, or stop for a bite to eat in the Nordic Embassy, which is accessible to the public from 1pm-3pm on weekdays.