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Berlin, capital city
Article Building & Housing
Parliament and government in Berlin
On 20 June 1991, the German Bundestag passed a motion to complete the unification of Germany and declared Berlin to be its seat. This decision confirming Berlin the capital city of the Federal Republic of Germany was one of the most important milestones along the way to German reunification.
Since that time, starting on 1 September 1999, the German Bundestag and the Federal Government have moved most of their activities to the capital city.
For this purpose, many buildings in the new, yet old, capital city were newly constructed or remodelled. Space was provided for new architecture while existing buildings and skylines were also preserved.
Ansicht des Bundeskanzleramtes (Larger version opens in new window)
Source: anshar/shutterstock.com
Recreation of the Berlin Palace – construction of the Humboldt Forum
At the heart of Berlin, the historical structure of the Berlin Palace, demolished in 1950, is being re-erected. It will house the Humboldt Forum with exhibitions on non-European cultures, complementary to nearby Museum Island. This will be a cultural centre that is unique throughout Germany and that serves as a focus for interaction.
The German Bundestag agreed on the decisive targets for the building project in December 2007.
When it is finished, the building will provide some 41,000 square metres for national and Berlin-based cultural institutions. The cost of the project will amount to €595 million, including a rooftop restaurant. €80 million of the total is to be raised in the form of donations for the reconstruction of the historical façade.
On the initiative of the Federal Government, the “Stiftung Berliner Schloss – Humboldtforum” foundation has been responsible for the project as construction client since November 2009. The foundation was renamed “Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss” in January 2016.
The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning is responsible for project planning and construction.
Rebuilding the Bauakademie Berlin (Berlin Building Academy)
By rebuilding the Bauakademie, the federal ministry responsible for building aims to create a meeting point, an exhibition space and a workshop in one. The building is to be a setting for lively public debate on the various aspects of sustainable building, planning and urban development. In addition, the Bauakademie is intended as a national and international showcase for interdisciplinary research and teaching, and for skilled crafts and trades. Alongside professionals in the field, the target groups include the general public, tourists and, in particular, children and young people. The location in Germany’s capital city, directly beside the Humboldt Forum in Berlin Palace and Museum Island, is ideal for this.
The historical Bauakademie Berlin, built in the 1830s from plans drawn up by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, was badly damaged in the War. The remains of the building were demolished in 1962 as part of the GDR plans for the capital city.
A single-stage planning competition was held for the rebuilding of the Bauakademie Berlin and in May 2018, five prize-winners and five highly commended entries were selected from a total of 78. The projects selected now form the basis for ongoing dialogue on future plans. Work is now under way to compile a specific space allocation plan for the subsequent architectural design competition. An institution to take over operation of the building is being founded in parallel.
