The members of the Museum Island Berlin Board of Trustees on David Chipperfield's plans:
Press release from 04/20/2007
Preserving what is historically authentic, adding to what has been lost without imitating it and integrating a careful, high-quality modernity - that is the right approach.
Museum Island Berlin unites outstanding museum architecture and forms a globally unique ensemble. The Museum Island Board of Trustees promotes and supports the restoration and completion of this world heritage site. Its members are convinced by David Chipperfield's concept for the reconstruction of the war-damaged Neues Museum, which he agreed with the representatives of the preservation authorities and UNESCO. It is crucial that the historical authenticity of the building is preserved and not impaired by imitations.
An entrance building on the Museum Island is essential to relieve the pressure on the historic buildings. In the hundred years of its construction, each period has confidently used its own architectural language. We should do the same with the sixth building that will complete the ensemble. We welcome the appointment of Chipperfield to design the James Simon Gallery. He has repeatedly demonstrated how sensitively, knowledgeably and confidently he deals with the task of integrating the formal language of our time into a historical environment. We are looking forward to his design.
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