Where is SPK building?

The Foundation is the guardian of many historic buildings that must be cared for and tended. The large number of visitors, the ravages of time in general, or new challenges for cultural institutions in the 21st century make thorough, continuous maintenance necessary. But new buildings are also required for safeguarding collections or presenting them appropriately. Where are SPK’s current building sites? Here is a brief overview.

Museumsinsel – Pergamonmuseum

Museumsinsel (Museum Island) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The five historic buildings that were constructed on it between 1830 and 1930 are being thoroughly renovated and modernized according to Masterplan Museumsinsel. Since the Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode-Museum, and Neues Museum were completed, the focus is now on the Pergamonmuseum. Its basic renovation and expansion are important milestones that have already been achieved: the Tempietto, the future main entrance, is structurally complete, for example. A new building has been added to the ensemble on the island: the James-Simon-Galerie, designed by David Chipperfield Architects, is the new gateway to the museums.

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (Berlin State Library)

The building on Unter den Linden was opened in 1914. After it was damaged during World War II, it received only makeshift repairs and a complete renovation was necessary. The work is now finished, and the building should open in 2020. It will house a library museum that presents special items from the library collection. The next project on the list is the general renovation of the building on Potsdamer Straße. It was designed by Hans Scharoun and has been in use for 40 years.

Speicherstandort Friedrichshagen

The collections are growing and with them, the need for suitable storage space. A new central storage depot with workshops for the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (National Museums in Berlin) will be built to go along with the storage magazine in Friedrichshagen, Berlin-Köpenick, which is used by the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut, and the bpk-Bildagentur (Picture Agency bpk).

Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts (Museum of the 20th Century)

In the near future, a new museum will grace the Kulturforum: the Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts. It will be built on plans drawn up by the office of architects Herzog & de Meuron. The 20th century art collections of the Nationalgalerie (National Gallery) will be exhibited in this new building and the nearby Neue Nationalgalerie.

Neue Nationalgalerie

Opened in 1968, Mies van der Rohe’s Neue Nationalgalerie has long been an icon of the Modern era. For decades, its striking shape has made the building a landmark of the Kulturforum. After having welcomed the public for almost half a century, a thorough renovation is necessary. The general renovation according to monument regulations will follow the slogan: “As much of Mies as possible.”