Revamped and Stunning: David Chipperfield's Masterpiece Unveiled in Neue Nationalgalerie Refurbishment!

After almost fifty years of intensive use, the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin required a comprehensive refurbishment, and the iconic building has now been restored to its former glory. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the steel and glass structure is the only building he designed in Europe after emigrating to the USA. The refurbishment was carried out by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, who was appointed to the project in 2012. Today, in a digital ceremony, the keys will be handed over to the client, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Berlin State Museums) and Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation), with the Neue Nationalgalerie set to reopen in August 2021.

View from Potsdamer Strasse, 1968 - rchiv Neue Nationalgalerie, Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Reinhard Friedrich

The project has been a complex planning process, with the challenge of finding a suitable balance between heritage conservation and the building's use as a modern museum. The refurbishment has upgraded the building to current technical standards, including air-conditioning, artificial lighting, security, and visitors' facilities such as a cloakroom, café, and museum shop, as well as improving disabled access and art handling. The refurbishment project does not represent a new interpretation, but rather a respectful repair of this landmark building of the International Style.

The existing building fabric has been refurbished and upgraded, with a minimum of visual compromise to the building's original appearance. This has included the dismantling of around 35,000 original building components, such as the stone cladding and all the interior fittings, to expose the shell construction. After their restoration and modification where necessary, they were reinstalled in their precise original positions. The necessity of an extensive repair of the reinforced concrete shell and the complete renewal of the technical building services required an in-depth intervention.

The building's essential additions remain subordinate to the original design, but they are nevertheless discreetly legible as contemporary elements. The functional and technical upgrades, while essential, have not detracted from the building's original aesthetic. The refurbishment has ensured that the building remains a true masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture.

The refurbishment of the Neue Nationalgalerie represents a significant achievement in heritage conservation, demonstrating the importance of preserving historic buildings for future generations. The restoration has not only preserved the building's original appearance but also brought it up to modern standards of accessibility, comfort, and sustainability. As a result, visitors will be able to enjoy the building's original splendour while benefiting from the latest in museum technology and facilities.

In conclusion, the completion of the Neue Nationalgalerie refurbishment represents a significant milestone in the history of modern architecture. The careful restoration of this iconic building demonstrates the importance of preserving historic landmarks for future generations while ensuring that they remain functional and accessible to the public. The project has been a complex and challenging process, but the result is a testament to the skill and dedication of the architects and builders who have worked on the project. As a result, visitors to the Neue Nationalgalerie will be able to experience the building as it was originally intended, as a masterpiece of twentieth-century architecture.

The refurbishment project does not represent a new interpretation but rather a respectful repair of this landmark building of the International Style.

David Chipperfield about the project: “Taking apart a building of such unquestionable authority has been a strange experience but a privilege. The Neue Nationalgalerie is a touchstone for myself and many other architects. Seeing behind its exterior has revealed both its genius and its flaws, but overall it has only deepened my admiration for Mies’ vision. Our work was therefore surgical in nature, addressing technical issues to protect this vision. Certainly carrying out such a task in a building that leaves no place to hide is daunting, but we hope to have returned this beloved patient seemingly untouched except for it running more smoothly.”

***

Cover photo: View from Potsdamer Straße © Simon Menges

Courtesy of David Chipperfield Architects