What are we?
We are an event venue with many different spaces within the complex of WILHELM HALLEN :
The old iron foundry Winkelhof, now known as WILHELM HALLEN, is a listed ensemble consisting of various halls, loft spaces, and offices, all adorned with beautiful brick architecture. The total floor area exceeds 20,000 square meters.
The aim of the renovation was uncompromising preservation of the existing structure, which is why all interventions in the substance were carried out with great care. Roofs were dried, windows insulated, new connections for electricity, plumbing, and heating were laid, and the floors were finished in concrete.
Red brick ornaments and iron framework, above which rows of shed roofs stretch towards the sky, define the visual appeal. Countless fragments and traces reveal what once was. Designed between 1898 and 1918 by the busy Pankow master builder Christian Friedrich Malingriaux and constructed from 1902 by the architect Hermann Streubel, the factory halls have actually undergone few changes. In the 1950s, some installations were made, including the addition of a gatehouse. Since its closure in 2014, the structure has remained untouched, so that through the sooty glass panes of the foundry, the daylight still falls today as Malingriaux saw it a hundred years ago.
1898
The iron foundry Carl Schoening moved in 1898 from the Weddinger Uferstraße to a large plot of land on Kopenhagener Straße, in close proximity to the Reinickendorf-Rosenthal railway station (now Wilhelmsruh) of the Nordbahn. Here too, a management building in the Neo-Renaissance style serves as the focal point towards the street. The production halls behind it were built quite plain and closely together. By 1918, all the buildings, which have remained almost unchanged to our time, were completed.
1987
The foundry building stands close to the eastern property boundary. Also preserved is the loading facility for goods, which were transported to and from via the industrial railway of the Reinickendorf municipality. In 1987, the iron foundry Carl Schoening, Berlin's last iron foundry, went bankrupt, but was revived by the foundry engineer Albert Winkelhoff, only to finally cease operations around 2014.
2015
In 2015, the venerable Eisengießerei Winkelhoff faced insolvency due to significant investment backlog and dwindling demand. The last embers of its more than century-long production were extinguished as the final smelting furnaces fell silent at the close of 2025.
With the declaration of insolvency came the inevitable commencement of a traditional bankruptcy process, signaling the end of any hopes for the foundry's continued operation. Consequently, the appointed insolvency administrator oversaw the liquidation of the company's remaining assets.
2016
In 2016, the ownership of the historic Winkelhoff iron foundry transitioned to a consortium comprising two Berlin-based individuals and two Canadian partners. Their collective mission centered on the rejuvenation of the site, envisioning its evolution into a vibrant hub for creativity and innovation.
Despite this ambitious vision, progress was impeded by protracted negotiations and regulatory hurdles with local authorities. Consequently, the anticipated groundbreaking ceremony was postponed for several years as the project navigated through an extended phase of planning and approval.
2019
The old Eisengießerei Winkelhoff underwent a transformation, rebranded as Wilhelm Hallen in homage to the nearby Wilhelmsruh S-Bahn station. In 2019, the initial construction activities commenced, focusing initially on House D with its classic loft spaces.
Throughout the renovation process, meticulous attention was paid to preserving authenticity. All roofs, foundational structures, and technical elements were meticulously restored, emphasizing a delicate approach to ensure the retention of the site's original charm.
today
Today, Wilhelm Hallen boast a diverse array of tenants, ranging from players in the music industry to architects and creative studios. With the emergence of WILHELM STUDIOS as a prominent fixture within Wilhelm Hallen, the historic grounds have opened their doors to the public through various public and corporate events.
The ongoing renovation and restoration efforts continue unabated, paralleled by a steady increase in the number of tenants who call Wilhelm Hallen home.
