200 years old museum: Berlin's treasure fights against decay!

200 years old museum: Berlin's treasure fights against decay!

Berlin, Deutschland - On July 6, 2025, the old museum in Berlin will be invited to an important anniversary, because 200 years ago, in June 1825, the construction of this unique institution began. The goal of the museum was clear from the start: to make art accessible to everyone. The design comes from Karl Friedrich Schinkel, one of the most famous architects of European classicism, who created a masterpiece with this building. The idea of ​​building such a museum came about in response to the demands of political participation and cultural participation, which shaped European enlightenment.

The realization of the old museum was largely made possible by the return of the works of art stolen by Napoleon to Berlin in 1819. The location in the pleasure garden, then the most prominent place in the city, surrounded by important buildings such as the city palace and the armory, made the museum an important cultural attraction. The museum was opened on August 3, 1830 and has always been open to all visitors. In order to promote access, admission was free of charge for a long time as long as visitors were adequately dressed. Interestingly, the museum remained closed on Sundays so as not to keep people from church.

The development of the old museum

The success of the old museum led to the establishment of the new museum in the 1850s, which formed the basis for the famous museum island. However, the old museum was badly damaged after the Second World War, and the reconstruction dragged on until 1966. The reunification in 1990 brought new possibilities; In 1998, an essential part of the renowned antique collection was reopened on the main floor. Today's presentation of the ancient collection shows Greek art and sculptures that were previously exhibited in the Pergamon Museum. On the upper floor, Etruscan and Roman works of art can also be admired, which have been shown there since 2010. The old museum is still valued for "all art collections", an idea that has existed since it was founded.

important should be mentioned that the structural condition of the old museum has remained critical since the reconstruction in 1966; There are persistent problems with the building services, the facade and the roof. In addition, the museum drops by about one millimeter annually because it is on an ice age sludge lens. A comprehensive basic maintenance is therefore urgently required to permanently preserve the historical substance and the collections.

The concept of museum architecture

The role of the old museum goes beyond the presentation of art. It also stands for the changing meaning of museums in a social context. According to Dokmimarlik combines the museum architecture of art, science and culture and offers spaces for education, preservation and social commitment. This functionality must always be in balance with aesthetic and architectural aspects in order to meet the different requirements.

Until the 200th anniversary of the museum island in 2025, the preparations for the anniversary and the challenges in front of which the old museum are facing will continue to focus. It remains to be hoped that the necessary measures will be taken to preserve the history and meaning of this unique facility for future generations.