Neue Nationalgalerie



 


 


 


 

The third stop on this walking tour is at the Neue Nationalgalerie; referred to in English as the Museum of Modern Art. This museum primarily focuses on art from the early 20th century. It was built in 1968 by Ludwig van der Rohe, who is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern architecture. Architecturally, the building fits in with the Bauhaus movement as it follows the simplistic style that turns buildings into art and has become a landmark of modern architecture as well as a protected monument by the State of Berlin. Inside the gallery however, this tour will visit the Museum of Decorative Arts which contains modern furniture built by Ludwig Mies can der Rohe one of the founding fathers of Bauhaus. Since the opening of the Neue Nationalgalerie there have been no significant renovations made to the interior or exterior of the building. However, in 2012 it was decided than an architectural firm out of England would be responsible for the rebuilding of the structure. Their aim is to bring the building up to code, so it is able to conform to modern safety codes and regulations while still maintaining the historical character and base architecture of the museum.

This stop on the walking tour is aimed to get people thinking more generally about what the Bauhaus movement fully encompassed. Bauhaus concepts carry over to various art mediums as well as architecture and design. These influences can be seen in throughout the different museum exhibits. Exteriorly, the building appears in a Bauhaus style, with lots of windows, straight lines, and an air of simplicity. The lightness of this building fits in perfectly with the Bauhaus aesthetic. This carries inwards as the simplistic architecture is carried throughout the building. Tourists will be able to see the variety of shows and collections that were created during the mid-20th century all within a building that is essentially part of an exhibit itself. In 2012 it was decided that the museum needed to upgrade yet the challenge was to help preserve the historical architecture and designs. Construction, which has been ongoing since has now been concluded and the museum is open again after renovations started in 2015 and people are now able to see the updated façade. Overall, the aim of this point of interest is to give people a generalized understanding and conception of the Bauhaus art and architecture movement as well as a general comprehensive understanding of modern art movements in the mid-20th century.

  • Jaspers, Martijn. 2017. "The Neue Nationagalerie: The Refurbishment of a Modern Monument." Docomomo Journal, no. 56 (January): 78.
  • Neumeyer, Alfred. 1969. "Berlin's New National Galerie." Art Journal 29 (1): 92-93. doi:10.2307/775284.
  • Zukowsky, John. 2000. "Gropius, Walter." In American National Bibliography Online. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/aanb/9780198606697.article/1700352.

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