A new museum for 20th century art at the Kulturforum in Berlin

Abstract

My graduation assignment was to design a new national museum of Germany for 20th century art, which will form an extension to the Neue National Gallery at the Kulturforum in Berlin. Creating a new identity for the new museum was a challenge since it is located between two of Germany’s most important architectural icons of the 20th century: the Neue National Gallery from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Das Philhermonie from Hans Scharoun. Creating another icon was tempting, just as most of todays new museums form new icons for cities to attract more visitors… and generate more money. In my opinion there are enough iconic buildings at this location. Adding another icons at the centre of the Kulurforum would imbalance the relationships between the current buildings. I wanted to create a more modest building which mediates with the rectangular grid of the Neue National Gallery and keeps the dialogue possible between the Neue National Gallery and the Philharmonia possible. In search for this new identity I analyzed other national museums located in Berlin. I found out that the national museum played in German history an important role in shaping and strengthen the collective German identity. I decided that I also want to create a building that accommodates this process of strengthening the nations identity. Next to the fact that this building will bring together the collection of the 20th century art it will also bring together the diverse range of individuals that shape German society. A centre were people can socialize and discuss and grow as a community.