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The Neue Nationalgalerie
Its Architect and Its Building History

22.08.2021 to 26.02.2023
Neue Nationalgalerie

For its reopening the Neue Nationalgalerie is devoting a special exhibition area to the history of its building and the work of its architect, Mies van der Rohe. The two major emphases are on the period of its construction (1965–1968) and its thorough refurbishment by David Chipperfield architects over the past six years (2015–2021). Selected works of art from the Nationalgalerie’s collection relating to the museum’s architecture supplement the documentary exhibit. Along with works by Josef Albers and Isa Genzken, most recent works by Michael Wesely and Veronika Kellndorfer dealing with the renovation are on display.

Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

The Neue Nationalgalerie is considered a major example of 20th-century Western architecture. In this exhibition the building’s place in the work of Mies van der Rohe (Aachen 1886–1969 Chicago) is illustrated. His design and building activity touched on very similar themes throughout his career. He began developing the radical idea of an open space as free of supports as possible in the 1920s, one in which interior and exterior could flow into each other. His buildings are characterized by grandeur and a striving for perfection. In addition, they feature clarity and reduction with a simultaneous richness of furnishings and often visually staged construction elements.

Architectural History of the Neue Nationalgalerie

The exhibit in the northern area of the lower level, behind the cloakroom, shows a series of building types that Mies designed during his working years in Berlin (1906–1938) and after his emigration to the United States in the 1950s. It shows how these paved the way for his final work: the Neue Nationalgalerie. His large design model from 1968 is displayed along with original floor-plans of the upper hall and the lower level and collages illustrating the overall design concept. In addition, a short video clip brings the history of the house to life with historical photos from the construction period and the opening accompanied by recorded comments from the architect himself.

Refurbishmen: As much Mies as possible

Original furnishings like a "Barcelona Chair" used in the museum since 1968 and a glass side table illustrate both Mies’s insistence on designing every feature of his buildings and the building’s indebtedness to its time. The general restoration by David Chipperfield Architects undertaken under the motto: "As much Mies as possible" emphasised those characteristics. Photos of the refurbishment process and original samples such as a floor tile, a ceiling element, and an exit light show the degree to which the refurbishment touched on the building’s every detail.

Curator

The exhibition is curated by Uta Caspary.

Architectural Tours

After the reopening on August 22 regular architectural tours will be offered Sundays and Wednesdays, financed by Euroboden, the Neue Nationalgalerie’s architectural partner.  

Neue Nationalgalerie Elements

To make the many discoveries and structural investigations during the restoration available to a broad public, a special application has been developed, designed by the NEEEU agency with the gracious support of the Wüstenrot-Stiftung: Neue Nationalgalerie Elements.


A special exhibition of the Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Neue Nationalgalerie, 2021, Exterior view
© Ludwig Mies van der Rohe / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2021 / Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Simon Menges
Neue Nationalgalerie, 2021, Exterior view
© Ludwig Mies van der Rohe / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2021 / Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Simon Menges
Reopening of the Neue Nationalgalerie from August 22, 2021, Michael Eissenhauer, Joachim Jäger, Monika Grütters, Michael Müller, Hermann Parzinger (from left to right).
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Photo: David von Becker
360° Tour of the Neue Nationalgalerie
© Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Potsdamer Straße 50
10785 Berlin

wheelchair accessible

U-Bahn: Potsdamer Platz
S-Bahn: Potsdamer Platz
Bus: Potsdamer Brücke, Potsdamer Platz Bhf / Voßstraße, Kulturforum, Philharmonie

Sun 10:00 - 18:00
Mon closed
Tue 10:00 - 18:00
Wed 10:00 - 18:00
Thu 10:00 - 20:00
Fri 10:00 - 18:00
Sat 10:00 - 18:00

Opening times on public holidays Opening Hours
Due to the expected high demand, extended opening hours will accompany the exhibition finale of “Andy Warhol: Velvet Rage and Beauty”: on Friday, 4 October 2024, 10 am ‒ 8 pm, and on Saturday, 5 October 2024, 10 am ‒ 9 pm.

Museum ticket Neue Nationalgalerie + special Exhibitions
14,00 EUR Concessions 7,00
Neue Nationalgalerie + special Exhibitions
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Kulturforum all exhibitions
20,00 EUR Concessions 10,00
all exhibitions
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Annual Ticket from 25,00 EUR
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Tel 030 - 266 42 42 42 (Mon - Fri, 9 am - 4 pm)
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Related Links

Virtual Tour: Neue Nationalgalerie

Web app: Neue Nationalgalerie Elements