Reconstruction projects in Potsdam (City Palace, baroque Quartier Barberini, Garrison Church etc.)

[Varoš]

I have a question about palace.Is the interior going to be in modern or in old style like it was in original palace?

[erbse]

It'll be modern but they'll leave options to reconstruct interiors of the palace as well.

[Bluegate74]

It all looks very nice and of course is far superior to a hole in the ground but at the end of the day it is Disneyland architecture with no historical authenticity. Its basically a modern spec concrete office complex dressed in fake neo-classical dress.

Its a shame Germany has had to hark back to past 'glories' here and has not had the courage to create something cutting edge to display the talents of its new, younger architects. Is this scheme and similar ones in Dresden really about patching up Aldstadts or erasing aspects of its more recent less savoury history.

[Kampflamm]

Are you genuinely suggesting these reconstruction projects are about hiding our Nazi past?

Younger architects have had plenty of opportunities to create spaces that are cutting edge yet don't make people vomit and they have failed miserably most of the time. It's also not Disneyland architecture since we are talking about buildings that

a) stood there for centuries and
b) represent a distinctively local style of architecture.

It's not like Potsdam or Dresden are filling these spaces with Japanese temples, Italian villages or French castles. No, they're rebuilding their own buildings. How's that Disneylandish? I do agree though that reconstructions should be full and complete. It's a shame when only the outer shell is being reborn while the interiors are dull, drab and interchangeable like so many other examples of modern architecture.

[erbse]

But the exterior architecture is what counts for our cityscapes in the end.
And modern architecture is doing way better in interiors anyway.

I agree though we should at least leave options and give hints about the former glorious interiors. Reconstructing the inside of a building is very costly though.

[vittorio tauber]

Only state rooms need to be rebuilt and refurnished in style in those buildings.

There's no need to rebuild backrooms, kitchens, stores and apartments for servants. Which occupy around 90% of space in any castle or ancient palace.

[Kampflamm]

Source: unify/Stadtbild Deutschland

[Kampflamm]

Excavation work for the Palais Barberini and other buildings is underway as well...

[Kampflamm]

Source: unify/Stadtbild Deutschland

[derwent]

Originally Posted by Bluegate74

It all looks very nice and of course is far superior to a hole in the ground but at the end of the day it is Disneyland architecture with no historical authenticity. Its basically a modern spec concrete office complex dressed in fake neo-classical dress.

Its a shame Germany has had to hark back to past 'glories' here and has not had the courage to create something cutting edge to display the talents of its new, younger architects. Is this scheme and similar ones in Dresden really about patching up Aldstadts or erasing aspects of its more recent less savoury history.

But Bluegate can you not see how much incredible creativity and workmanship has gone into creating these new buildings? Just look at the close ups of all the carved stonework. That is a tradition handed down over generations and should never be lost so that mass produced glass and steel can take its place.
This is no Disneyland facade. This is the same workmanship that went on 100 - 200 years ago. I think it is something to be incredibly proud of.

[Kampflamm]

Source: unify/Stadtbild Deutschland

[skymantle]

Originally Posted by derwent

But Bluegate can you not see how much incredible creativity and workmanship has gone into creating these new buildings? Just look at the close ups of all the carved stonework. That is a tradition handed down over generations and should never be lost so that mass produced glass and steel can take its place.
This is no Disneyland facade. This is the same workmanship that went on 100 - 200 years ago. I think it is something to be incredibly proud of.

Not only that, but an important part of heritage is not only maintaining an historic building or other structure, but also handing down the skills that created those masterpieces, which projects like this allow for.

Originally Posted by Kampflamm

I think the problem is that plenty of people in Germany feel the Prussian sense of duty and honor more or less led to Hitler or at least made it easier for him to go on a rampage. Prussia was big on following orders and not questioning superiors. Therefore people will go around arguing that anything built before the 1950s is essentially smeared with the stigma of authoritarianism (aside from the modernist architecture of the 1920s) and should thus not be reconstructed by a democratic society.

Still, as you mention Prussia really was no different than the UK or France, in some aspects perhaps even more liberal. And disobeying orders certainly wasn't something that the British or French armies signed off on either.

Prussia also gave rise to Frederick the Great who was a progressive, enlightened 'philosopher king' who amongst other things codified laws and wrote the anti-machiavel which was very humanistic and way ahead for its time, so clearly its history should not be seen as simply and entirely militaristic, regimental and bellicose. I think it is fair to consider Frederick one of the great rulers of modern Europe, even if the madman Hitler admired him too. Prussia's history is as varied and interesting as any other in Europe, with some quite astonishing achievements, including its architectural heritage and that's why I'm in favour of seeing, where appropriate, destroyed structures rebuilt, like what's happening here.

keep us posted.

PS: Frederick was of the Hohenzollern dynasty, and that along with the architectural significance is a good reason to reconstruct this palace imho.

[Sphynx]

Potsdam's lost architectural inner city gems have always been my fave along with those in Dresden and am finally relieved and happy that Potsdam is moving in the same direction as Dresden.

A few questions about the city palace though.

Using Dresden's Frauenkirche as a template, in terms of an almost perfect reconstruction both inside and out, how will Potsdam's city palace compare?

For example, it appears as if the outer shell of the Potsdam city palace will be constructed of concrete, which likely wasn't the original construction material.

However, the second pic here apparently shows red brick covering the concrete shell with sandstone blocks covering the same red brick:

Originally Posted by Kampflamm

The Frauenkirche in Dresden had its original structural remains contained in the heap of rubble at its base, which was re-utilized in its reconstruction.

However, the Potsdam city palace was cleared of its ruins, wasn't it?

If so, where did the original columns for the Potsdam city palace come from:

Originally Posted by Kampflamm

Original column:



Pics courtesy of Benni / Stadtbild Deutschland-Forum



Source: unify/Stadtbild Deutschland[/

A great project and also glad that they are utilizing original remnants from the city palace (hope that they repair the columns in the last pic though) in its reconstruction.

[Tiaren]

Sadly they won't!

[Karasek]

[Karasek]

The Stadtkanal, 1,4km long and filled up in the 60s, gets reconstructed too:

[Karasek]

There are also plans to reconstruct the Gloriette (1739)and 3 neighbouring Dutch houses:

[erbse]

^ Very nice! Could you provide any link/s for that project?

[Karasek]

Originally Posted by erbse

^ Very nice! Could you provide any link/s for that project?

Sorry, I only read about it on Potsdam Wiki. And their source is from 2006.


And some old Potsdam:

[Ulpia-Serdica]

Any plans to rebuilt this beauty?