Berlin’s Neues Museum Announces Grand Re-Opening-

Los Angeles, July, 2009 – After more than 60 years in ruins, the Neues Museum (New Museum) on Berlin’s Museum Island is scheduled to re-open its doors on October 16, 2009. The re-opening completes the decade long, 200 million Euro restoration project, marking the third major milestone in the overall restoration of the five renowned museums that make up the UNESCO world heritage site, Museum Island.

The Neues Museum will once again house the archaeological collections of the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection, the Museum of Pre- and Early History, as well as works from the Collection of Classical Antiquities. The most prominent feature of the exhibit, the bust of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, described as “the world’s most beautiful woman,” will be centrally and prominently displayed in the north cupola of the building. The bust was first exhibited at the Neues Museum in 1924 and evacuated from the structure in 1939. Additional artifacts including the burial chambers of Metjen, Merib and Manofer will also be available to view as free-standing elements.

Built by Prussian architect and master builder Friedrich August StГјler between 1843 and 1855, the Neues Museum is the centerpiece of Museum Island and an outstanding example of nineteenth century Neoclassical architecture. During the bombing raids of 1943 and 1945, the museum was severely damaged and partially destroyed. In spite of some preliminary safety measures, the museum was still in serious disrepair when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

In 1997, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation commissioned British architect David Chipperfield, along with Julian Harrap, to design and oversee the museum’s rebuilding. Their goal was to transform the structure back into a functioning museum, while maintaining the room sequence and original traces of the building’s own history. The so-called “gentle restoration” took the given form of the StГјler building, transforming it into the clear language of David Chipperfield, by maintaining what remained of the original structure and further developing it for future-oriented use. The final result illustrates the new harmoniously complementing the old, while also featuring contemporary additions. The traces of the damage that underscore the building’s history remain evident to museum visitors.

After the re-opening of the Old National Gallery in 2001 and the Bode Museum in 2006, the Neues Museum will be the third fully restored museum building on Museum Island. This latest re-opening signifies the first time in over 70 years that all five museums on the island will be open to the public.

Over one weekend in March 2009, 35,000 visitors had the special opportunity to preview the completed structure of the Neues Museum.

July 7, 2009   Posted in: Germany