A small temple for the Pergamon Museum
Press release from 05/03/2019
Topping-out ceremony on the Museum Island Berlin
Berlin. On 3 May, the topping-out ceremony for construction phase A of the basic refurbishment and extension of the Pergamon Museum was celebrated on Berlin's Museum Island. With the construction of a new staircase and the completion of the illuminated ceilings and glass roofs above the central building of the museum, large parts of the shell construction work have been completed and the extension phase has begun. Part of the future archaeological promenade below the building has also been completed. As part of the construction project managed by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), the building will also receive a new central entrance, the so-called Tempietto (small temple), the shell of which already characterises the new appearance of the Pergamonmuseum.
In the presence of Anne Katrin Bohle, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community, Petra Wesseler, President of the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning, Hermann Parzinger, President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and Jan Kleihues, architect in the Pergamonmuseum consortium, the topping-out wreath was raised over the shell of the Tempietto today. Numerous guests joined builders, planners and participants to celebrate the progress made on the major construction site.
The basic refurbishment and extension of the Pergamon Museum is being carried out according to the plans of architect O.M. Ungers. The project will be realised in two construction phases so that part of the museum can remain open to visitors at all times. The current construction phase A concerns the north wing of the building complex and the central building, which houses the world-famous Pergamon Altar. The museum will continue to operate in the southern part of the building during this work. The topping-out ceremony marks important milestones in construction phase A, which have been achieved in recent months after the complex specialised civil engineering work, including a new foundation and foundation reinforcement of the entire building complex, was completed.
"The preservation and expansion of the Museum Island Berlin World Heritage Site is of central importance to the German government in terms of cultural and construction policy. Since reunification, the federal government has invested a total of over 2 billion euros in Museum Island and the Humboldt Forum in the rebuilt Berlin Palace," said State Secretary for Building Bohle.
The current construction phase is characterised by the progress of the shell construction work. Not only was the shell of the Tempietto recently completed, but also a completely new staircase, which will make an important contribution to opening up the building. The construction of a new load-bearing interior wall with large openings in the north wing has also been completed.
"The basic refurbishment of the Pergamonmuseum is a highly complex large-scale project that constantly challenges everyone involved. Not only technical requirements such as the implementation of modern air conditioning technology and the creation of accessibility in the historical building, but also the continuous protection of the architectural exhibits during the construction period are demanding," emphasises BBR President Wesseler. "Today's topping-out ceremony shows that together we are capable of mastering even the greatest construction challenges."
The main components of the construction project also include the repair and reinforcement of the roof structures with new glazing and the renewal of the skylights that allow daylight into the exhibition halls. Above the Hellenistic Hall, the work for this has been fully completed; above the Pergamon Hall and in the north wing, it is well advanced. In the so-called north wing head building, the old steel structure is currently being dismantled.
"The events in Paris have made us realise how much care and attention we have to take and what responsibility lies with those who renovate such monumental and fragile buildings. Museum Island Berlin has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for 20 years. Its basic restoration and completion is worth all the effort. Today's topping-out ceremony marks a milestone on the way to making the huge, world-famous Pergamon Museum fit for the future. It is the centrepiece of the Museum Island and, despite its partial closure, continues to be a major visitor magnet in Berlin," adds SPK President Hermann Parzinger.
An important goal is to adapt the museum to the requirements of the large number of visitors and today's visitor needs and to ensure barrier-free access. Among other things, this will be achieved through a new central entrance area (Tempietto), which will also be sufficient for several groups of visitors, and the Archaeological Promenade, which will connect the buildings on Museum Island underground in future. Parts of the Archaeological Promenade are currently under construction. As part of construction phase B, a fourth wing will be added to the existing three-winged complex, making it possible to walk through the exhibitions of ancient architecture for the first time.
"A major milestone has been reached with the erection of the shell of the Tempietto, as the construction progress is now also clearly visible from the Kupfergraben," explains architect Jan Kleihues. "The construction task is multi-layered, complex and more than exciting, never commonplace. What is invisible and unimaginable is what is moved inside the building every day. Such a challenging construction task requires a special degree of dedication and interest, because there are no prefabricated solutions and everything has to be individually conceived according to the given situation. The Tempietto, like the construction of the fourth wing planned for construction phase B, is part of the concept for the completion of the Pergamonmuseum."
It goes without saying that the building will also be equipped with state-of-the-art building technology, from the entire lighting technology, ventilation and air conditioning to heating and cooling technology, electrical and security technology and building automation. Work has already begun on the installation of the technical building equipment in the north central building. The heavy and large ventilation and air conditioning systems were installed in the designated rooms before the building shell was sealed. Work has also begun on the rough installation of the technical routes. The great effort involved in implementing contemporary standards in the listed building fabric can be clearly seen on the construction site in its current intermediate state. In the finished building, these interventions will be barely noticeable; the new architectural elements will harmonise with the historic building fabric and the new building technology will of course be invisible to visitors and ensure optimal perception of the art and cultural objects on display.
In March 2019, the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning was awarded the planning contract for construction phase B. These measures will be realised as soon as the work for construction phase A has been completed.
The planning envisages completion of construction phase A in mid-2023. Due to the difficult framework conditions, the construction project is still associated with considerable risks. These include not only the high requirements of monument protection and the protection of the remaining works of art inside, such as the Great Frieze of the Pergamon Altar, but also the coexistence of construction and museum operations and the extremely high workload of the construction companies. This means that an extension of the construction period by up to 19 months (until spring 2025 at the latest) cannot be ruled out.
Approximately 477 million euros in planning and construction costs have been approved for construction phase A. In addition, a share of around 12 million euros has already been approved for planning costs for construction phase B as part of the overall planning for the basic refurbishment and extension of the Pergamon Museum.