Ballhaus Riviera
The Ballhaus was first opened in 1890, the area became the popular place to be after the first Grunau Regatta of 1880, in subsequent years more then 50,000 people lined the banks of the Spree to watch the races. The Ballhaus's main draws were the palm tree lined outdoor restaurant and a rather fancy ballroom, making it THE place to be.
With the division of Germany the Ballhaus fell firmly on the side of the DDR and the venue continued to draw a crowd 90 years later, but then people went for a different type of dancing .... Disco
Since the fall of the Berlin wall many ideas have been put forward, apartments an old peoples home, a beer garden opened for a little while but didn't last more than a season. Apparently it was bought by a Turkishk investor in 2006, but little much has happened and the building slowly gets more dilapidated and more drawn on as the years pass
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) did one during their rule that people today either love or loathe, they gave it protected status so whatever happens to the building it will continue (hopefully) in one way or another as long as someone has LOTs of Euros!
With the division of Germany the Ballhaus fell firmly on the side of the DDR and the venue continued to draw a crowd 90 years later, but then people went for a different type of dancing .... Disco
Since the fall of the Berlin wall many ideas have been put forward, apartments an old peoples home, a beer garden opened for a little while but didn't last more than a season. Apparently it was bought by a Turkishk investor in 2006, but little much has happened and the building slowly gets more dilapidated and more drawn on as the years pass
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) did one during their rule that people today either love or loathe, they gave it protected status so whatever happens to the building it will continue (hopefully) in one way or another as long as someone has LOTs of Euros!
