the iconic Kino International has reopened following renovation

After 18 months of intensive renovation work, the famous Kino International cinema at Karl-Marx-Allee 33 in Berlin is once again welcoming audiences. The 1960s building has undergone a complete modernisation under the direction of Dickmann Richter Architekten. The building has regained the historic appearance of its façade and interiors, enhanced with modern installations and technologies.

Kino International in Berlin

Berlin’s Kino International was built between 1961 and 1963 as a prestigious venue for film premieres in the former GDR, yet from the very beginning it was much more than just a screening room. Architect Josef Kaiser’s design included an expansive foyer, meeting spaces, and club and library facilities. The building stands on Karl-Marx-Allee, one of the most significant urban planning projects in post-war Europe. We wrote more about this famous avenue HERE. The striking composition of the façade and interiors, the clear geometry and the highly ingenious use of light and materials meant that the building almost immediately gained the status of an architectural icon of the German capital.

The architecture of Berlin’s modernist icon

The cinema building features an expressive, modernist form typical of post-war European architecture. The structure appears light thanks to extensive glazing, particularly in the foyer area, where large windows and doors open the interior onto the cityscape. The building’s façade is based on a combination of glass, metal and prefabricated concrete elements. The transparent sections contrast sharply with the more solid parts of the walls. These are covered with decorative panels featuring a subtle relief, forming the series “Aus dem Leben heutiger Menschen” (“From the Lives of Contemporary People”), depicting scenes of everyday life in the reality of the GDR. These introduce an additional layer of visual texture and chiaroscuro, causing the façade to change depending on the angle of the light. The interiors are finished with wood, stone and terrazzo – materials typical of the 1960s.

Karl-Marx-Allee in 1964. Photo: Bundesarchiv

The history of the iconic cinema and the reasons for the renovation

Since its opening in 1963, the Kino International has served as a prestigious venue for cultural life in East Berlin. After 1989, the venue continued its operations, joining the Yorck Kinogruppe network in 1992 and maintaining a strong position in the festival repertoire, including during the Berlinale. However, many years of intensive use without a major refurbishment led to the gradual wear and tear of the building’s systems and fittings. The technical systems no longer met modern requirements, and the building’s accessibility posed numerous constraints. An additional challenge was the need to preserve the original features of the building, which had been listed as a historic monument since 1990. Consequently, a decision was made to carry out a modernisation, the first of such a scale in over 60 years.

Project by Dickmann Richter Architekten

The long-awaited renovation took place from July 2024 to February 2026, with Yorck Kino GmbH acting as the client. The comprehensive scope of work necessitated the complete closure of the cinema – for the first time in its long history. The design by Dickmann Richter Architekten was developed in collaboration with Berlin’s heritage conservationists. The architects were faced with a challenging task: they had to focus on fully preserving the original aesthetics whilst modernising the entire technical infrastructure. The cinema’s usable floor area is now approximately 6,381 square metres, and the auditorium seats 506 people.

Side elevation before and after renovation. Photo: Lotse, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons and Google Maps
New infrastructure and technology

The extensive scope of work included a complete replacement of all systems, from the basement right up to the roof. As part of the renovation, modern ventilation, heating and electrical systems were installed in the building, along with new plumbing and drainage systems. The roof was fitted with completely new insulation, a zinc sheet covering and new skylights. Meanwhile, the cinema auditorium was fitted with a Dolby 7.1 system and a Christie laser projector supporting 4K resolution. Reducing the number of seats allowed for greater spacing between rows, which significantly improves the comfort of watching films.

Kino International – historic details

A very important, if not the most important, part of the work was the extremely meticulous restoration of the building’s original details, fittings and finishes. A total of over seven kilometres of wooden slats made of cherry, elm and ash were dismantled from the interiors. These were then restored and re-installed on the walls of the various rooms. In addition, the concrete terrazzo, stone surfaces and the gilded ceiling in the foyer were restored. A special place within the Kino International space is occupied by the silver curtain covering the screen. This painstakingly restored detail is covered with over 40 million sequins!

Kino International berlin Kino International before and after renovation. Photo: Jörg Zägel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
and Google Maps

Acoustics, comfort and accessibility

Great attention was also paid to the new sound quality. The interiors were fitted with over 1,000 square metres of new acoustic materials, concealed behind the historic wall panelling in the auditoriums. The modernisation also resulted in a reduction in energy consumption of around 70 per cent. The building has, of course, been adapted to current safety and accessibility requirements. It now features a lift leading to the cinema auditorium and toilets adapted for people with disabilities.

Kino International as a social space

Since its opening in 1963, the International Cinema has served as an important venue for cultural gatherings and events. Film premieres, festivals and public events have been held here. Following the renovation, the building once again fulfils this role. The foyer, stairwells and Panoramabar create an atmosphere that transports visitors back to the time of the building’s construction. The venue reopened on 26 February 2026, whilst the official celebrations took place on 3 March, attended by representatives of the federal government and the City of Berlin.

Renovation design: Dickmann Richter Architekten
Team: Daniel Dickmann, Helen Hart, Elena Herwarth von Bittenfeld, Chiara Alten, Julia Gerhards
Photographs: Daniel Horn