New Museum

The Neues Museum in Berlin is an architectural and cultural masterpiece located on Museum Island, a site declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by architect Friedrich August Stüler, a student of the famous Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the museum was inaugurated in 1855. Its construction was a remarkable engineering feat for the time, requiring the use of new technologies such as a wooden pile foundation to stabilize the ground and the use of a steam engine for lifting and transporting construction materials. The Neues Museum was severely damaged during World War II and remained in ruins for decades. Only in 1997, British architect David Chipperfield was commissioned to lead an ambitious restoration project, completed in 2009. Chipperfield’s restoration was praised for its sensitivity, preserving traces of the wartime past while integrating modern elements. The reconstructed sections are recognizable and visually distinct from the original elements, creating a dialogue between past and present. One of the main attractions of the Neues Museum is the Egyptian collection, particularly the famous bust of Nefertiti, discovered in 1912 by German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt in Amarna, Egypt. This bust, dated to 1340 BC, is one of the most iconic works of art in the world and attracts thousands of visitors every year. The museum’s Egyptian exhibition also includes other important artifacts, such as papyri, statues, and everyday objects that offer a glimpse into life in ancient Egypt. The museum also houses the prehistory and ancient history collection, covering a vast time span from prehistory to the medieval period. Among the highlights are the artifacts of Heinrich Schliemann, the archaeologist who discovered the treasures of Troy. Although many of these treasures were transferred to the Soviet Union after the war and never returned, the Neues Museum displays replicas and some originals that testify to the importance of Schliemann’s discoveries. Another section of great interest is dedicated to the treasures of the Rhine, a collection of Roman artifacts recovered from the river. Among these stands out the Xantener Knabe, a bronze statue dating back to the 1st century AD representing a young boy. These artifacts offer a detailed insight into daily life and culture in the ancient Roman province of Germania. The Neues Museum is also known for its extraordinary monumental staircase, a modern reconstruction that echoes the original form but with a simplified architectural language. Built with large prefabricated elements of white concrete, the staircase rises within a majestic hall, offering a fascinating contrast with the exposed brick walls that bear the scars of war. Chipperfield’s intervention has allowed for the creation of new exhibition spaces, such as the Archaeological Promenade on the ground floor, which connects the museum to the other buildings on Museum Island. This exhibition route was designed to facilitate access and enjoyment of the collections, making the Neues Museum a central point for visiting the entire museum complex.