Neue Nationalgalerie refurbishment
by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin
Client Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz represented by the Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung
Award RIBA International Awards for Excellence 2024
The Neue Nationalgalerie at the Berlin State Museums, Germany originally completed by Mies van der Rohe in 1968, his only building in Europe.
The scholarly refurbishment of this icon of International Style represents an exemplar project in the important emerging global practice of sustainable conservation of 20th Century architecture.
The last major project by Mies van der Rohe, Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie is a perfectly square structure of steel and glass. Majestically raised above the street on a granite plinth its epic column free hall is a spectacular showcase for modern art.
In a design process which begun with forensic archival research and archaeological examination of the 1968 fabric, David Chipperfield Architects have delivered a meticulous project of conservation-led refurbishment.
The architects used a guiding principle of “as much Mies as possible” and the result is flawless in its treatment of the original as architecturally sacred.
Alongside carefully dismantling and restoring 35,000 building components to safeguard the fabric of this icon of International Style, enhancements have been made to building performance. Functional flaws have been addressed, bringing the fabric to current technical standards without visibly altering the structure.
Other features including LED lighting, underfloor heating, gallery infrastructure and universal access provision, are all seamlessly integrated. A major move is the opening-up of an area beneath the podium for technical spaces and art storage to address the client’s brief for functional improvement of this major national gallery.
Enhancements to the cloakroom, shop and café ensure improved visitor facilities for long-term sustainability.
The exacting determination of the architect’s devoted restoration and the attentiveness of design interventions which respect the original vision, make this an exemplar project skillfully enhancing one of our most important buildings of the modernist era for future generations.
Location: Berlin, Germany
Date of completion: 14/12/2020
Cost: Confidential
Gross internal area: 13900 m²
Landscape Architect: TOPOS Stadtplanung, Landschaftsplanung Stadtforschung
Executive Architect: BAL Bauplanungs und Steuerungs
Restoration Consultant: ProDenkmal
Structural Engineer: GSE Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH Saar, Enseleit
und Partner
Services Engineer: Ingenieurgesellschaft W33 mbH with Domann Beratende Ingenieure
Building Physics: Müller-BBM
Acoustic Engineer: Akustik-Ingenieurbüro Moll
Fire Consultant: HHP West Beratende Ingenieure
Facade Consultant: DS-Plan
Lighting Design: Arup Deutschland
