After years of contemplating, debating and designing, the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Castle) is finally returning to the heart of Berlin. The weekend of June 24-25 gave Berliners an exciting taste of what is to be expected, by opening the (lack of) doors of the building site to the public's eyes.
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Along Unter den Linden opposite the Lustgarten the Humboldt Forum Box now begins to look dwarfed against the growing Schloss, where the first example of historical-looking rendered external wall gives Berliners a taste of what is yet to come.
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The inner courtyards could only give a conceptual impression of what is yet to come, with scaffolding still dominating the walls. Although it was interesting to observe that as per the perimeter walls, the inner walls of the Eastern Hof will be a combination of both modern and historical architecture. Three walls will be made to look like the original courtyard walls of the Prussian Residence, while the fourth and final wall, which already stands mostly complete, is a modern building design.
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Statues and stonework were on display for the passing crowds, although clearly not yet in position. Regardless, the attention to original detail for this stonework is indeed impressive.
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The middle and inner welcoming courtyard continues this idea of blending modern and historical architecture, with two opposing walls in modern design, while the other two yet to be bricked and rendered (plastered). On this occasion the courtyard welcomed visitors with food trucks and information stands.
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A delight of the day for anyone interested in architecture was seeing the progress of the building works, particularly the combination of a prefabricated concrete shell, historical stone work and rendered brick to bring the whole structure together.
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Walking in the entrance from below where the dome will soon be completed (a controversial debate whether the dome should be completed with a gold cross, as originally designed for the Prussian Palace but never actually realised) one enters the final "courtyard". Though an open courtyard in the original Schloss, the Humboldt Forum is covered by an impressive glass room. No-doubt giving more all-weather use to the space.
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Live experimental post-modern electronic music entertained the visiting crowds, and hopefully the space is later used for a wide variety of performances and concerts.
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A model gives the scope of what the entire Schloss will look like when completed (though not all white), including the covered west courtyard. Notice also the cross atop the dome...
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Amusing was the post-it-note forum, allowing visitors to write their own suggestions about how the Schloss should be utilised and general commentary. Interestingly many commenting for and against the inclusion of the cross above the dome. Plus advocating for Bonanza Coffee and free entry. ;)
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A few examples of the external wall now completed and with scaffolding removed.
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Within the Humboldt Forum Box, which now has free entry, examples of how Berlin looked at the beginning of the 20th Century are recreated in models. Obviously centering around the Berlin Schloss, the differences in design are made far clearer (particularly the eastern end along the Spree, which was the first Residenz.
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And if one has the time, a great deal of history regarding the original Prussian Schloss, its survival of the World Wars, but not of the Soviet control, which leveled the remains to build a parade ground instead. The asbestos filled People's Palace lasted even less than the DDR.
Berlin the ever-constant building site! Down below from the Humboldt Forum Box one gets a glimpse of one of the entrances to the U5 U-Bahn line being built underneath Unter den Linden - to run from Alexander Platz to the Hauptbahnhof.
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Some more examples of the progress and stages of building. Concrete, windows, tar, bricks, stones, rendering.
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Views from the terrace of the Humboldt Forum Box towards Alexander Platz
and the TV tower, and across the road to the Lustgarten, the Berlin Dom
and Altes Museum.
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Finally some information regarding how the space of the new Berliner Schloss will be used.
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