Stadtbad Oderberger Strasse

Public bathing facilities became a necessity in Berlin as the city grew rapidly throughout the nineteenth century. So, in 1902, Stadtbad Oderberger Strasse opened not just as a pool for swimming but also as an attractive place for city dwellers to wash.

The most remarkable element of the lavish neo-Renaissance building is the indoor pool, which extends over three floors, with a vaulted ceiling surrounded by ornate windows.

Despite the chaos of war in the twentieth century, the Stadtbad was left relatively unscathed— remarkable, considering Berlin was so often bombarded. But it closed its doors in 1986 due to cracks in the foundation. Redevelopment was stalled until locals (whose parents may have bathed or learned to dog-paddle here) rallied to save the architectural gem. When their grants fell through, an adjoining language school dipped its toe in and took over.

The baths had their most recent grand reopening in 2016 as part of a boutique hotel whose decor showcases elements of the original building. Now, guests can rent out the legendary pool for their own private session of Technicolor dog-paddling.

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