Hansa Studios – the big hall by the wall

 

Studiotour: we do offer additional SPECIAL-Tours through the legendary Hansa Recording Studios

For info and booking the Hansa Studio Tours please write an email to: info(at)musictours-berlin.com

“The Big Hall By the Wall” was a term coined by David Bowie in the 1970´s to describe “Studio 2” or Meistersaal (literally “The Masters Hall”), thus creating an instantly recognizable idiom in the record business for the Hansa Studios.

 

Here David wrote and produced his huge hit “Heroes”. Famous artists including Iggy Pop, Depeche Mode, U2, Nina Hagen, Nick Cave, David Byrne as well as many other musicians have worked here on some of their most spectacular records.

The house in Köthener Straße was built by the Architects Giesede & Menzle in the traditional Music Quarter of Berlin during 1910 to 1913 and was used by the Society of Builders for Greater Berlin. During the Second World War the rear building was badly damaged and was gradually restored.

When the War ended The Masters Hall was used quite regularly as a ballroom. In summer 1961 Berlin was divided up and the building located in West Berlin was only a few metres away from the Wall itself.

Record company Ariola used The Masters hall from the mid 60’s as a recording studio and in 1976 Thomas and Peter Meisel from the Meisel Music Publishers bought the whole building. In the same year The Masters Hall or “Studio 2” was born. It came up to 5 studios in the next years.

Today artists like Supergrass, Snow Patrol or German Punk Rock Lady Nina Hagen hire the Hansa Studios for their productions, using and enjoying the unique acoustics of “The Big Hall by The Wall” and then putting the finishing touches on in the legendary Hansa Mixing Suite.