Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BERLIN CITY PALACE: BACK TO THE FUTURE
After two decades of debate and bickering, construction of the Humboldt-Forum in
the historic heart of Berlin finally got under way in July 2013. The large-scale project
will look like a replica of the baroque Berliner Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace) but
with a modern interior. Although barely damaged in WWII, the grand residence where
the Prussian rulers had made their home since 1443 was blown up by East Germany's
government in 1950 and replaced 26 years later with the Palast der Republik (Palace
of the Republic). It housed the GDR parliament and a cultural venue but, riddled with
asbestos, it too had its date with the wrecking ball in 2006.
The Stadtschloss 2.0 comes with a projected price tag of €590 million, with most of
the bill footed by the federal government. The design by Italian architect Franco Stella
has three sides of the facade looking like a baroque blast from the past and thus visu-
ally completing the historic ensemble of Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral and New
Royal Stables. The modern interior will be a forum for science, education and intercul-
tural dialogue and shelter the Museum of Ethnology and the Museum of Asian Art -
both currently in the outer suburb of Dahlem - as well as the Central State Library
and university collections. It will be named Humboldt-Forum after philosopher and
university founder Wilhelm von Humboldt and his explorer brother Alexander.
The building shell should be completed in 2015, the entire project in 2019. In the
GOOGLE MAP
;
0180-503 0707;
www.humboldt-box.com
;
Schlossplatz; admission €2; 10am-7pm;
100, 200, Hausvogteiplatz)
opens a window onto the ambitious project by displaying
interactive teaser exhibits from each future resident along with a fantastically detailed
model of the historic city centre. There are great views of Museumsinsel and the con-
struction grounds from the top-floor cafe terrace.
