Museum Island receives temporary exhibition building "Pergamonmuseum. The Panorama"
Press release from 11/09/2016
In order to be able to offer visitors to Berlin's Museum Island an attractive programme during the renovation of the Pergamon Museum, the SPK is erecting a temporary exhibition building. It will be built directly opposite the Museum Island on Kupfergraben and next to the railway line. Visitors will be able to reach the exhibition building without having to travel long distances. The WOLFF GRUPPE/IPR is responsible for financing and realisation. The building will be in operation at least until the end of the refurbishment of the entire Pergamon Museum. It is planned to open the building, which will initially be dedicated to the theme of "Pergamon", shortly before Easter 2018.
Various partners had to work together to realise the building. The Federal Real Estate Agency (BIMA) provided the land as owner free of charge. On behalf of SPK, the WOLFF GRUPPE/IPR will realise the building at its own expense and refinance this with the income from admissions. The profitability calculation was audited by "Partnerschaften Deutschland/ÖPP Deutschland".
The architectural design of the temporary building comes from the Berlin office "spreeformat architekten". The two-storey building will contain exhibition rooms, a café and a shop and will be characterised by the rotunda of the planned panorama. The design and realisation are being carried out in close coordination with the Berlin State Monuments Office. Planning permission has been granted. The "Pergamon" exhibition is being conceived by the Collection of Classical Antiquities of the National Museums in Berlin and designed by "Studio asisi".
The content plans follow on from the collaboration between the Collection of Classical Antiquities and "Studio asisi" on the very successful Pergamon exhibition in 2011/2012. Accordingly, the intention is to present Yadegar Asisi's panorama with the vision of the ancient metropolis as the highlight of the future exhibition building. Important parts of the Pergamon Altar, including the Telephos Frieze (also known as the "small frieze" in contrast to the large Giant Frieze), will be at the centre of the exhibition. A completely redesigned 3D visualisation of the Pergamon Altar will also give visitors an impression of this world-famous testimony to ancient art, which is not accessible until 2023 due to renovation work. The Foundation will provide more detailed information about the exhibition concept next year.
Hermann Parzinger, President of the Foundation, says: "We know that we have to expect a lot from visitors to the Museum Island during the renovation of the Pergamon Museum. It is very important to me that we nevertheless continue to present the central themes of the world cultural heritage. I am pleased that, together with the Wolff Group as a partner, we are able to realise the exhibition building without using taxpayers' money. In light of the latest developments at the Pergamon Museum construction site, which will lead to an extension of the construction period for the first construction phase until 2023, this temporary exhibition building makes more sense than ever. Especially as it will still be available afterwards, when the Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way of Babylon will not be accessible in the second construction phase, and we will be able to offer visitors an attractive alternative."
Michael Eissenhauer, Director General of the National Museums in Berlin, explains: "We are delighted to have this great opportunity to offer our international guests special access to the originals in the Collection of Classical Antiquities. This is urgently needed, and not just because of the long closure of the Pergamon Altar, the museum's eponymous landmark. This year alone, the Pergamonmuseum attracted over 700,000 visitors, but the museum is also at the limits of its capacity due to the extensive construction work. The exhibition building therefore fulfils two promises at once: We can meet the huge demand and offer an excellent alternative for the closed Pergamon Altar."
Andreas Scholl, Director of the Collection of Classical Antiquities: "I am delighted that in the foreseeable future we will once again be able to offer our visitors from all over the world a representative impression of the art and archaeology of the Hellenistic metropolis of Pergamon. A large number of first-class original sculptures, the small frieze of the Pergamon Altar and the magnificent panorama of the city by Yadegar Asisi will inspire the public".
Sebastian Steffin, managing director and architect of "spreeformat architekten":"The simple design language and reduced material and colour concept with visible construction elements correspond to the temporary character of the building. The café on the upper floor will offer a spectacular view of the Museum Island."
Klaus Wolff, Managing Partner of Interimsbau Pergamonmuseum Realisierungsgesellschaft mbH (IPR): "The realisation of a cultural building that does justice to the unique location, within the given restrictions, represents an enormous challenge. As a group of companies with the subsidiaries involved, we are rising to this challenge. With the outstanding design, the companies involved in the planning and realisation and our experience, we expect a special project result. We also see this as a pilot project for future tasks."