Neues Museum
Berlin
Germany
Neues Museum was constructed in the era of Frederick William IVat 19 June 1841. The original Friedrich August Stuler built magnificent Egyptian rooms, a Greek temple and a Pompeian villa. As it was closed after World War II due to extensive damage, and has finally come to life after a six-year restoration project by British architect David Chipperfield.
It was built in the neo-Classical style, with all the floors decorated by important Classical Painters and a wonderful grand staircase as the focal point of the main building. The staircase winds down all three storeys, and is surrounded by the famous Kaulbach frescos.
The collections in the musueum is as follows:
- Museum of Prehistory and Early History
- Egyptian Museum and the Papyrus Collection
- Collection of Classical Antiquities
The Egyptian Collection, which was evacuated from the building before the war, returns to its home for the very first time since 1939. Neues Museum was the second museum built on Museum Island, and was intended to provide a storage solution for the overflowing Altes Museum. The most controversial exhibit, the bust of Nefertiti, will be prominently displayed. Additional artefacts including the burial chambers of Metjen, Merib and Manofer will also be available to view.
The general restoration of Museum Island will continue till 2015. Neues Museum is scheduled to reopen its doors on October 16, 2009, after a 200 million Euro restoration project.
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