Important to know
- Guided tour: Yes
- Website: https://hansastudios.de
- Address: Köthener Str. 38, Berlin, Germany
- Getting here: Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park metro station (260 m) and Potsdamer Platz metro station (350 m)
- Hours: Guided tours by appointment and subject to availability
Hansa Studios is a historic recording studio located in Berlin, Germany, where renowned rock artists such as David Bowie, R.E.M., The Hives, Depeche Mode, and U2 have recorded.
Situated near the Postdamer Platz, in the Kreuzberg district, the space remains one of the country’s foremost creative and musical centers to this day.
Visiting it today evokes mixed emotions. The façade features a large image of David Bowie’s face that shifts depending on where you stand to view it. His presence feels alive and playful.
In the 1970s, the windows of Hansa Studios offered a view of a section of the Berlin Wall. It’s said that Bowie saw a couple kissing by the Wall, inspiring him to write “Heroes.” The lyrics say: “I, I can remember (I remember) / Standing, by the wall (by the wall) / And the guns, shot above our heads (over our heads) / And we kissed, as though nothing could fall (nothing could fall) / And the shame, was on the other side.”
David Bowie lived in Berlin for about two years, from 1976 to 1978.
The entire history of this iconic studio can be explored firsthand during a private or group guided tour of the Hansa Studios building, covering both its historical and current aspects. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours. All information can be found on the studio’s website.
