David Chipperfield Architects commissioned with the refurbishment of the New National Gallery of the National Museums in Berlin
Press release from 03/29/2012
The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation has recently commissioned the office of British architect David Chipperfield to plan the complete refurbishment of the Neue Nationalgalerie at the Kulturforum. The famous building by Mies van der Rohe needs to be extensively renovated, from the façade to the building services. The building will be closed during the construction work, which is expected to begin in early 2015 and last just under three years.
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, said: "I know that this icon of modern architecture is in the best hands with David Chipperfield. In working with him on the Museum Island, I have come to greatly appreciate the sensitivity in dealing with the architectural heritage and the conceptual clarity of his approach."
The architect for the refurbishment was selected as part of a two-stage negotiated procedure (VOF procedure - procurement regulations for freelance services) with the involvement of the State Monuments Office, the Berlin Chamber of Architects and an advisory selection committee of renowned freelance architects. 24 architectural firms applied for the challenging task.
In preparation for the basic refurbishment, a comprehensive conservation and structural survey was carried out. The refurbishment measures affect the entire building and therefore cannot be carried out during ongoing operations. In detail, the following construction measures are planned: the basic restoration of all structural elements (steel supporting structure, reinforced concrete, steel and glass façade), the restoration of the visible surfaces (natural stone, terrace), the renewal of safety and fire protection technology, the upgrading of all visible technical installations (including lighting) and the administration rooms with restoration of the existing furnishings. In addition, the cloakroom, museum shop and café will be adapted to contemporary museum standards. The stringent requirements for the preservation of historical monuments must be taken into account for all measures. The cost calculation is part of the planning and is not yet available.
The Neue Nationalgalerie, one of the buildings of the Nationalgalerie, with its seemingly weightless steel construction and flowing interior spaces, is an important work of 20th century architectural history. Built between 1965 and 1968, it is the only building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to be erected in Germany after the Second World War. It was the first building on the then largely unused site of the Kulturforum and presented the "Gallery of the 20th Century". Since its opening over forty years ago, the Neue Nationalgalerie has not undergone any comprehensive refurbishment.
David Chipperfield Architects, which currently employs more than 200 people, was founded in London in 1985. There are further locations in Berlin, Milan and Shanghai. On Berlin's Museum Island, the reconstruction of the Neues Museum, which was badly damaged in the Second World War, was based on the firm's plans. It has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards for its work, including the European Union's Mies van der Rohe Prize for Contemporary Architecture and the German Architecture Prize in 2011. In addition, the James-Simon-Galerie, a visitor centre with contemporary service functions for all buildings on Museum Island Berlin, is currently being built according to the office's plans.