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Berlin State Library, Unter den Linden
selected
Berlin State Library is the main building of the biggest German universal library and, because of its book collection, one of the most important libraries in the world. The building complex, severely damaged in World War II, was only partly reinstated. The central reading halls had been demolished in 1975.
Apart from the necessary fundamental reinstatement of the building, the new construction of a central reading hall is a condition for the recreation of functionality and the arrangement of the inner rooms.
An architect’s competition marked the first step towards the goal. The chosen design reconstructs the idea of the historic major building, the dramatically inscened room sequence with the big reading hall as its highlight – all this realised in an amazingly light, modern architectural design. As an illuminated cubic body on a plinth of high book walls, the central reading hall will represent the State Library as ’House of the Book’ and put the pompous Wilhelmian building into a more progressive light.
DU’s demanding assignment for the coming years will be to provide for the historic functionality under current library business. In spring 2003, DU could complete two parts of the project, according to quality demands and schedule. The budget document ‘HU Bau-‘ for the fundamental reistatement was permitted in October 2003.
at a glance
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