Project Information as at January 2016 Contents In the Middle Welcome 7 Location 9 History 11 Architecture 13 New Pathways 15 of Berlin-Mitte: Forum 17 Haupttelegraphenamt 19 Logenhaus 21 Fernsprechamt 23 A New Gropius Ensemble 25 Das Bauhaus 27 Residenz Monbijou 29 Simon Palais 31 Quartier Living 33 Contact / Imprint 34 ALEXANDERPLATZ ROTES RATHAUS HACKESCHER MARKT BERLIN CATHEDRAL SCHLOSSPLATZ OLD NATIONAL GALLERY UNTER DEN LINDEN GALLERY DISTRICT MONBIJOUPARK MUSEUM ISLAND NEW SYNAGOGUE ® FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL SPREE REICHSTAG FRIEDRICHSTRASSE A Historic Ensemble, Envisioning a Responsible Future Redesigned WELCOME with Respect In the middle of the city center, Berlin-Mitte, will be a new The FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL® is a project of the quartier for the future. Modern big-city life weaves its way Freiberger Holding. Known for experience in respectful into the architecture of three centuries. In no other place renovations, meticulous modernizing, and the revitaliza- in the capital city are history and culture so contemporary: tion of treasured monuments, Freiberger is predestined directly neighbouring the UNESCO World Heritage Museum for the sustainable development of this celebrated area. Island, the new FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL® compri- The FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL® – the best for Berlin. ses eight heritage-protected buildings and a new city- center square: for the first time in history, this unique ensemble will be a meeting point for both Berliner locals and visiting guests. Culture and joie de vivre, tradition and the modern define the FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL®, making it into an international center of attraction. Page 7 At the Crossroads GALLERY QUARTER MUSEUM ISLAND NEW SYNAGOGUE between FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL® Culture and TRENDY NEIGHBOURHOOD LOCATION Trends Situated directly on the Spree River in the heart of Berlin, Here are the cultural-historical landmarks of Berlin: the the FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL® is at the crossroads New Synagogue, the UNESCO World Heritage Museum of culture and the in-crowd. All the places that make this Island, the future Humboldtforum in the reconstructed city-of-contrasts Berlin one of the most exciting metropo- Berlin City Palace (Berliner Stadtschloss), the German lises in the world are but footsteps away. Historic Museum, the Berlin Cathedral (the Dom), the The FORUM an der MUSEUMSINSEL® lies in the middle of grand boulevard Unter den Linden, Bertolt Brecht’s Berliner Berlin’s hotspots: with the hip neighbourhood of the Ensemble, and revue theatre Friedrichstadtpalast. Hackesche Markt and the Oranienburger Strasse, the gallery quarter filled with contemporary art galleries of August- and Linienstrasse, with Rosenthaler- and Torstrasse, a hot- bed of trend-setters. Page 8 Page 9 Communication and Scientific Innovation HISTORY With its over two-hundred year history, the FORUM an der Some 20,000 telegrams were sent from that historic MUSEUMSINSEL® was always a place of communication telegraph office, the oldest in Europe, with a network and research. The northern part of the area was developed reach of some 400 kilometres. Thanks to the always-new in the mid 19th century into a centre of innovation, in par- telephone technology, the Fernsprechamt (telephone ticular the post office and telegraph office, whose impact, exchange) connected hundreds of Berliners to the world of course, was felt far beyond Berlin. Today one can see it at large. as part of the origins of development towards modern communication. Page 10 Page 11 GROPIUS ENSEMBLE SIMON PALAIS DAS BAUHAUS RESIDENZ MONBIJOU FERNSPRECHAMT Attentive FORUM HAUPTTELEGRAPHENAMT New Designs LOGENHAUS for the 21st ARCHITECTURE Century Architecture The FORUM on the MUSEUMSINSEL® is the Residenz Monbijou, also belonged to the Charité as not only exemplary of Berlin’s cultural history but also did the Ida Simon House (built 1908-10), known today reflects upon three centuries of European architectural as the Simon Palais. Architectural elements of the 20th history. The oldest building, built from 1789-91 in the clas- century were combined with imposing Art Deco Expressio- sical style, served as the lodge of Prussian freemasons. The nism of the 1925-27 erected Fernsprechamt (telephone Charité Women’s Clinic (built from 1879-83) – today’s exchange) and the 1929-32 purist forerunner of the Bau- Gropius Ensemble – was designed by Martin Gropius in a haus-style Charité Women’s Clinic – now Das Bauhaus – neo-Renaissance style. Majestic neo-Baroque can be found without any compromises. The historic building materials in the Main Telegraph Office, built in 1910-16. The classi- will be carefully restored and yet modernised by the archi- cal neo-Baroque Monbijou House (built 1902-06), today tects Sir David Chipperfield alongside Patzschke & Partner. Page 12 Page 13 Trailblazing the New Berlin NEW PATHWAYS New Pathways The widely diverse architecture of the Furthermore, beyond the borders of the new area, other northern and southern boundaries will be made more parts of the neighbourhood will also be redesigned in co- visually coherent by the new plans for Ziegelstrasse, crea- operation with district officials. ting a new quartier in the heart of Berlin. The now-closed The Spree riverfront and Monbijoustrasse become promi- off row of houses on Oranienburger Strasse will be opened nent promenades stretching from the Residenz Monbijou, up for direct access onto a newly constructed city square the Simon Palais, and former Main Telegraph Office. In the called the Forum. future, the Museum Island will be connected with the With the designed landscaping, the new city quartier raises neighbouring area known as the Spandauer Vorstadt. the bar of quality of life in the neighbourhood. Page 14 Page 15 The Forum: A new Public Square FORUM Forum A new urban meeting point is created through As an event space, the Forum will offer a diverse enter- opening access to the Pakethof (the “package courtyard”). tainment program throughout the year. The central name-giving square offers up excellent stan- This will be a place of unprecedented recreation and re- dards of living for the entire neighbourhood, even the laxation: from soaking in the first morning rays of sun to whole of Berlin. Enticing eateries and new shops will whiling away a late Sunday afternoon in a beer garden make it even more attractive. – here one does as one pleases. It’s Berlin after all. Page 16 Page 17 GROPIUS ENSEMBLE SIMON PALAIS DAS BAUHAUS RESIDENZ MONBIJOU FERNSPRECHAMT Modern Times FORUM HAUPTTELEGRAPHENAMT in Old LOGENHAUS Buildings Haupttelegraphenamt At the beginning of the 20th Future Airy, modern office-lofts will be installed in the century, Berlin was the centre of telegraphic communica- wing facing Oranienburger Strasse. Guests of the new life- tion. In 1909, the government official responsible for the style hotel Telegraph and residents of the upscale apart- post office, Wilhelm Walter, and architect Max Lehmann ments will enjoy a view onto Monbijou Park and Museum began planning the neo-Baroque Main Telegraph Office, Island. The ground level will be outfitted with attractive which would take up the entire block between Oranien- shops convenient to the building’s residents and offices as burger- and Ziegelstrasse. In 1918, after the end of the well as the tourists. A brasserie and fitness/wellness cen- First World War, the highly modern technical building was tre top off the added bonuses of the new complex. already in working use. It was an imposing complex of great halls, seven building wings, distinguishing stairway towers, and two courtyards: the biggest telegraph office in all of Europe and, of course, a forerunner of today’s in- ternet. The then most modern pneumatic post system stayed in operation until 1986. Page 18 Page 19 GROPIUS ENSEMBLE SIMON PALAIS DAS BAUHAUS RESIDENZ MONBIJOU FERNSPRECHAMT A Cultural FORUM HAUPTTELEGRAPHENAMT Landmark: LOGENHAUS The Logenhaus of 1791 Logenhaus The former lodge of the German Freema- In 1898 the central German Post Office acquired the house sons (“Große Landesloge der Freimaurerei Deutschlands”) and used it, among other things, for a parcel office. The on Oranienburger Strasse 71/72 is the oldest still-standing former “working hall” was turned into an employee can- preceptory in Germany. tine. Later, the Logenhaus became a part of the Institute It was built from 1789-1791 by lodge member and govern- for Post and Telecommunications of the GDR. ment building official Friedrich Christian Becherer, who was also a founder of the Berliner Bauakademie (building aca- Future With the cultural significance of the Logenhaus, demy). With its two side entrance gateways, it was one of suitable offices and businesses will find a new home here. the gems of Berlin’s classicist building history. In 1831 the building gained a few stories in height and from 1865-67 a new hall with an almost eight-meter-high dining hall at ground level and on the first floor above it was an impres- sive “working hall” decorated with typical lodge paintings. Page 20 Page 21 GROPIUS ENSEMBLE SIMON PALAIS DAS BAUHAUS RESIDENZ MONBIJOU FERNSPRECHAMT A Masterpiece FORUM HAUPTTELEGRAPHENAMT of Construction: LOGENHAUS Tailor-made for Creatives Fernsprechamt To accommodate the widespread use Future Along Tucholskystrasse, the ground level will be of the telephone, after the First World War there was an decked out with commercial shops and services. A modern urgent need for a new Telephone Exchange office in Berlin. IT company of the New Economy will occupy the