On Friday, the 14th of September, the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, one of the icons of 20th century architecture, reopened with a ceremony to mark both the completion of the shell structure’s restoration work and the 50th anniversary of the building’s opening. The speakers included, Gunther Adler, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community; Monika Grütters MdB, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media; Hermann Parzinger, President of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz; Dirk Lohan, Representative of the community of heirs of Mies van der Rohe and of course, David Chipperfield, the architect of the restoration.
The only building realised by Mies van der Rohe in Europe after his emigration to the USA, the Neue Nationalgalerie has been dedicated to the art of the twentieth century since its opening in 1968. Inaugurated 15 September 1968, David Chipperfield Architects Berlin was appointed to refurbish the building in 2012. The project now enters its final stage, which involves reassembling and reinstalling the thousands of original pieces that were removed and restored.After almost 50 years, the damage, deficiencies and deficits of intensive use are to be carefully and sustainably addressed, within the restrictions imposed by the building’s status as a listed monument. The refurbishment and modernisation aims for maximum preservation of the existing fabric, with minimum visual compromise to the building’s original appearance.
“Taking apart a building of such unquestionable authority has been a strange experience but a privilege. The Neue Nationalgalerie is a touchstone for myself and many other architects. Seeing behind its exterior has revealed both its genius and its flaws, but overall it has only deepened my admiration for Mies’ vision. Our work is therefore surgical in nature, addressing technical issues to protect this vision. Certainly carrying out such a task in a building that leaves no place to hide is daunting, but we hope to return this beloved patient seemingly untouched except for it running more smoothly.” David Chipperfield
In order to upgrade the services to current museum standards, the stone cladding and all the interior fittings must first be dismantled. Tens of thousands of original building components are being removed and restored, before being reinstalled in their precise original positions. The services being updated include air-conditioning, artificial lighting, security, and visitors’ facilities, including cloakroom, café and museum shop, as well as improving disabled access and art handling.
The key to the complex planning process for this project is finding a balance between the requirements of current museum usage and the importance of the Neue Nationalgalerie as a listed monument. Though the essential new interventions remain subordinate to the existing design of the building, they are nevertheless discreetly legible as contemporary elements. The refurbishment does not represent a new interpretation, but rather a respectful repair of this landmark of the International Style.
“It is all about preserving the aura and not about the reinstatement of an image. The refurbishment of the Nationalgalerie fundamentally accepts aging and traces of use in the existing building fabric, as long as they do not impair the visual appearance and usability of the building.” Alexander Schwarz, Partner and Design director
READ ALSO: WHBC Architects designed a concrete tropical box that embraces the lush jungle in Malaysia