Kulturforum Potsdamer Platz

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What`s on in Berlin with pictures or without pictures

In the 1960s, the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) decided to relocate the collections of European art to the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz, the site of the already existing Staatsbibliothek (State Library). In 1965, a competition was announced from which in 1969 emerged the winning design by the architect Rolf Gutbrod: a central square - the Piazzetta - with multi-storey car parks and an entrance hall connecting the individual building blocks.

In the 1960s, a halt was called to the entire project for financial reasons. Only in 1978, could Gutbrod begin the erection of the building for the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts). In the course of the long planning phase, the participating institutions had each formed ideas about the ideal layout of the Kulturforum which did not coincide with the existing design. In 1985, after the Kunstgewerbemuseum was completed, further planning was withdrawn from Gutbrod. As early as 1983, his plans were re-worked. Alterations were made to the layout of the entrance hall, the building work on which began in 1985. In 1987 followed the Kunstbibliothek (Art Library) and the Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings).

In 1987, a competition was announced for a new building for the Gemäldegalerie - Old Master Paintings. This was won by the architectural office Hilmer und Sattler. With the 1991 reunification of the paintings collections of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (National Museums in Berlin ), a study gallery was added to the building. In 1998, the Gemäldegalerie was opened.