It’s the way it always is when something old was destroyed and sorely missed, then renovated and refurbished – and then revisited. Opinions are divided: on the one hand, appalled and disappointed; on the other hand, enthusiastic and enthralled.
Stüler – Chipperfield. For some, this collision of differing worlds, times, styles represents a successful dialogue with the history of the museum, an embracing of Stüler and Chipperfield; for others, it’s a battle between two irreconcilable opponents. No one can, nor ever could, please everyone – Chipperfield didn’t even make an attempt to do so. How could he? The war ruin had been crumbling for over 60 years. Mercifully, the architect refused to carry out the standard total renovation. Which explains why the result is wonderful and not full of contradictions, but full of exchange of ideas between yesterday and today. Chipperfield actually deserves thanks for his courage to risk the necessary addition of the new, as well as for showing his respect for retaining Stüler’s work in a way that is advantageous for both of them.
Bevor and after the renovation
2009: The Neues Museum is once again home to the Museum of Pre- and Early History, the Egyptian Museum and Nefertiti, who is finally coming back after many years in exile. The museum was, and is once again, the main building on Museum Island - a “sanctuary for art and science” fulfilling the dream of King Frederick William IV of Prussia.
Stülerbuilding
