Can you rebuild the past? The Berlin Schloss

A debate has raged in Berlin for the past 2 decades over whether to rebuild the historic Berlin Schloss or City Palace on historic Museum Island. Badly damaged during WWII, the communists tore down the palace in 1950 to make way for their Palace of the Republic, a hideous steel, glass, & asbestos multi-use structure which was recently, in-turn, torn down.

The Schloss had served as a public art museum since 1918 but was started in 1443 as a royal palace. Constantly renovated over hundreds of years, the exterior stayed fixed to the baroque period while the interiors reflected the styles of the day. The dome was rebuilt in the mid 19th century by none other than the architect Karl Shinkel in collaboration with Stuler.

Many people have debated rebuilding the historic structure because they claim it has overtones of the previous monarchy, but what monument in Europe isn't tainted by history? In these photos you see photographs of a model of what is currently under construction taken by my Australian Penpal at the neighboring Bode Museum in Berlin.

What these people seem to want is a building of our own age -much as the communists wanted in their construction of the Palace of the Republic. Would they want someone like Frank Gehry (heaven forbid) to build something that doesn't match the historic area in the center of the city and would be reviled in 10 years time (as well as now)?

The compromise has come about that the exterior will be built to closely match the former palace with modern interiors which will house a modern, non-western art museum. The costly exterior recreation will be done mainly through private donations which have nearly been fulfilled and plans to be finished in 2019.

The undertaking is gargantuan as can be expected for such a massive building site. The exterior carved stonework has been meticulously copied from historic photos and paintings. Each piece must be modeled full-size in clay (which takes about a month) and approved by a panel before being carved in sandstone by masons (each small piece can take up to 2 months by one artisan).

 Here you can see 1 of 43 required eagles which will adorn the facade.

The workmanship is amazing; encouraging to know it exists in this day and age! The sandstone cartouche above took a mason 2 months to complete. Talk about job security!

Above you can see construction from last month. What do you think -would you have decided to rebuild the historic palace to fit within this historic district or hired a modern day architect to build something new?
See more images of the building's past and future HERE.
This article in the WSJ details the controversy in more detail.

Sanssouci details

While summertime 'downtime' (obviously) continues on this blog I thought I'd share some images my Australian penpal was nice enough to share with me of Sanssouci.

 I've blogged about the rococo palace in the past (here and here) and it never gets old.

 While this style may not interest you the attention to detail cannot fail to impress.

 This collection of porcelain on gilded brackets above reminded me of Howard Slatkin's NYC apartment.

 Notice the very successful jib door (closed) to the left of the chairs in the guest room above.

The chairs have a very modern looking ikat type fabric. Many of the fabrics and wallpapers were recently replaced by a company in Lyon.

 I especially love the blue version. Notice the matching curtains.

 Here you see the same fabric in green to match a green guestroom.

 The marquetry work in this small cabinet is amazing. These side chairs sport a more expected silk damask.

My favorite room at Sanssoci, as I've said in previous posts, is surely the Voltaire guest room which he inhabited for a time.

 The polychromed boiserie are so fun and cheerful.

 Birds and fruits sit next to monkeys and parrots - could it be more whimsical?

 Notice the very modern looking grotto-esque icicles at the top of the mirror.

 The parrots almost look entirely free standing on their brackets.

 The wallpapers are also a riot of pattern and color.

Notice the intriguing electrical switch below which blends right into the paper. Of course in the 18th century they wouldn't have had any switches so it's nice to hide them.

 Again with the modern fabrics, doesn't this fabric below remind you of something from the 1950s?

I hope you enjoy these delicious detail shots of Sanssoci Palace!

Santos Museum of Economic Botany

Sometimes museums which might sound rather dull (to design aficionados such as myself) can be held in the most astonishingly beautiful buildings. Such is the case with the Santos Museum of Economic Botany at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Australia which my penpal recently sent to me.

This little classical gem of a building from 1879 was just extensively and sensitively renovated. The structure wasn't built as the Greek temple it resembles but rather as the science museum it remains.

The ceiling is a good example of how the Victorians were able to meld together decorative detailing with highly detailed and rather commercial looking steel structure. I love the gilded mechanical vent. If you can't hide it -make a feature of it!

The collections themselves are just as decorative as the building - these rather amazing Victorian models of mushrooms above are entirely made of wax! I remember even as a child going to the Buhl Planetarium in Pittsburgh which at the time was the science museum (now the Children's museum of Pittsburgh) and being more interested in the beautiful building than in the exhibits themselves. Design inspiration can come from the most surprising places, no?

Palazzo Madama: a grand stair

Many of us have heard of the Palazzo Madama and its famous stair but how many of us have visited? My Australian penpal made a beeline for Turin and the palace while in Italy recently.

He wrote that the stair did not disappoint and even took his breath away. The stair has been copied around the world and for good reason: just look at it!

While the palace dates to the 1st century BC (seriously old) the stair was the last addition done to the complex in the early 18th century. The work was supposed to be a part of an enormous new baroque palace taking the place of the old castle designed by the Italian architect Filippo Juvarra.

 Only this stair and some interior renovations were completed thanks to numerous wars.

 Despite this there is still much to see; it's a large castle turned fascinating museum with something for everyone.

 The stair is seen above on the piano nobile plan at the bottom center in gray with the Hall of the Senate located in light blue in the center.

This grand and impressive hall was built atop a medieval courtyard with Roman excavations which is accessible from the ground level. I love the picture above with the group of people enjoying a snack in the corner of the grand space.

The collections include art of the Italian Piedmont region with everything from an impressive collection of pottery and china (still in their same location from a 1950s reorganization), fine arts, furniture, and sculpture.

 I wish this was my butler's pantry!

Below you see a painting and model of the immense Palace planned for the site by Juvarra of which only the stair was realized.

 The baroque interiors shimmer with gold and shine under colorful silks and beautiful paintings.

The baroque period was one in which the arts delighted the senses - who can't help but feel overwhelmed and awed by this beauty?

Either Neil is a patient man or the museum is unfortunately under-populated; all of these immense empty rooms with so much to see and no people!

The Italians did tend to over do things. One's eye has nowhere to pause in the image above; maybe not so much of a delight as an inundation of the senses. Bling Bling Bling!

I think I could spend an entire day in the museum though browsing the collections, maybe a trip to Turin is in my future?

 From the gardens one can see the earlier parts of the castle.

 They look particularly lush and green in the springtime and certainly well cared for!

 I love the little fountain in the image above.

Such orderly vegetable gardens in raised beds, I'm sure Martha Stewart would call it a good thing!

I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of the Palazzo Madama as much as me!