Parzinger on the reopening of the Museum of Decorative Arts: A place of inspiration for a creative city
Press release from 11/20/2014
The Museum of Decorative Arts at the Kulturforum reopens this Friday after three years of remodelling. The collection of the oldest museum of its kind in Germany has been reorganised at a cost of 4.3 million euros and the foyer has been redesigned. The main attraction is a new fashion and design gallery with precious crinolines from the 18th century, exclusive dresses by Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent through to designs by Philippe Starck and Ettore Sottsass.
The President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Hermann Parzinger, says: "Within just one week, we have yet more good news for the Kulturforum: With the Kunstgewerbemuseum, a veritable treasure trove of European art and culture is reopening its doors after three years of renovation. And it is visibly setting new priorities in fashion and design. For the first time, Berlin has a museum in which 300 years of European fashion history can be experienced! At the same time, the architects Kuehn Malvezzi have entered into an interesting dialogue with the brutalist building by Rolf Gutbrods, which has led to fascinating results. I am sure that the new Kunstgewerbemuseum will be a place of inspiration and contemplation for the many creative people and design enthusiasts in this city. In this building, with its collection stretching back to the Middle Ages, the great historical lines of an almost infinitely rich variety of forms in our everyday world can be traced.
The Neue Nationalgalerie, which will be renovated in a few years' time, and then the new building for 20th century art, as well as the contemporary presentation of the high-calibre collections, will finally give this location the status that the treasures united there deserve."
The Neue Nationalgalerie, which will be renovated in a few years' time, and then the new building for 20th century art, as well as the contemporary presentation of the high-calibre collections, will finally give this location the status that the treasures united there deserve."