The Veterinary Anatomy Theater (Tieranatomisches Theater) in Berlin is a striking example of Prussian early classicism and the city’s oldest surviving academic building. Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans in 1790, it originally served as a lecture hall for veterinary students, combining the architectural forms of a round temple and amphitheater to create a unique “architecture of knowledge.” Today, the theater is part of Humboldt University and functions as a dynamic exhibition space for interdisciplinary research and curatorial experimentation. Its domed rotunda and historic lift system once staged anatomy lectures with dramatic flair, and now host exhibitions exploring science, art, and postcolonial discourse. The permanent display “Meshwork of Things” showcases the university’s diverse collections, while the building itself remains a symbol of the intersection between aesthetics, education, and public engagement. With free admission and a location near Berlin’s cultural landmarks, the Veterinary Anatomy Theater offers visitors a thought-provoking journey through history, architecture, and the evolving role of scientific institutions.
Berlin GermanyThe Veterinary Anatomy Theater (Tieranatomisches Theater) is located at Philippstraße 13, Haus 3, on the North Campus of Humboldt University in Berlin-Mitte. Built in 1790 by Carl Gotthard Langhans, the architect of the Brandenburg Gate, it is Berlin’s oldest surviving academic teaching building and a masterpiece of early Prussian classicism, featuring a domed auditorium designed for anatomical demonstrations. Today, the building serves as an exhibition space for the university’s Hermann von Helmholtz Centre for Cultural Techniques, hosting science, art, and design exhibitions with a laboratory character. Nearby, visitors can explore the Museum of Medical History at the Charité, the Museum für Naturkunde (Natural History Museum), the Futurium, and the Brecht-Weigel-Museum. The area is well-connected and situated in the heart of Berlin’s academic and cultural landscape, making it ideal for those interested in the intersection of science, history, and architecture.