Architecture- Concepts

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THE ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT 

This section contains the most beautiful architectural pictures of the Palace façades reconstructed by the winner of the Palace-competition of 2008, the italian architect, Prof. Franco Stella, Vicenza. 

The Bundestag laid down in its decision, that the exterior of the Palace, that is the three baroque facades and the Schlüter Courtyard, should be reconstructed  true to their original appearance. The exterior of the new Berlin Palace will be rebuilt as far as possible true to the original in the old hand made manner. It’s most famous component, the Schlüter Courtyard, will also be reconstructed.  

Nevertheless, the interior, corresponding with the new uses to which it will be put, will be largely planned in a modern style. The most important historic suites can be rebuilt by coming generations, perhaps in 30 Years. It will cost a lot of money which is not available today. So later generations will thus be enabled to proceed further with their reconstruction if they want to.

Of the almost 1,000 rooms, less than 100 belong to this category. They accounted for about 1/3 of the total room space. As the seat of the government of Prussia until late in the 19th century, these other rooms were used as small offices and rooms for domestic services and storage. They are in conflict in the amount of space they take up with the demands of the present day usage plan. Thus their reconstruction makes no sense.

Proposal for the Division of Room Space

It is planned that the transverse building, the ground floor of the west Palace, will be used for the Agora, the grand social center of the Palace. This area will be divided into a number of usage spaces with differing security standards.

The museums and the library will be housed in the floor of the building lying above the Agora, since the layout of the space there makes possible an ensemble of large and small rooms. The library will be connected through modern technology with the archives .

The historic architecture of the Palace is documented in such detail through remnants, plans and photos, that it can be precisely reconstructed through traditional  handicraft work.  

Overall Views

The most important criterion in the planning was for us the insuring of an harmonious relationship between the new Palace and its neighboring buildings. Thus the three baroque facades, the one on the Pleasure Garden side, the one on the Palace Square and the one on the so-called Schlossfreiheit, had to be resurrected in their former beauty, since they create a relationship to the surrounding historical buildings. As a counterweight to the cathedral, the Palace cupola is to be reconstructed true to scale. All the historic parts will be constructed in the traditional manner by hand.

Obviously this rules out the use of poured concrete or machine finished sandstone.

The eastern façade of the Palace will be configured in the modern style like the city center itself east of the Spree River. In contrast, the Schlüter Courtyard will be rebuilt true to the original. It represents the most important piece of architecture by its creator, Andreas Schlüter. The eastern side of the Eosander Portal with the cupola will give the defining dimensions for the reduced and modernized courtyard which now will be the Agora, the great congregation hall of the palace.

Interior Configuration

The synthesis of the old and the new in the interior of the new Palace is a gigantic task. Here something magnificent must be accomplished if the building is to continue to exist for future generations.

The enthrallingly beautiful CAD reconstruction pictures in our web site have been produced unselfishly at minimal cost to us by Sandy Lunitz , eldaco, Berlin out of love for the Berlin Palace. We thank them heartily and would be very pleased if you would consider their firm, Eldaco, Berlin, Tel: 0049/(0)30 8639 3943,  for your needs.