Master plan for Museumsinsel in limbo

A proposal by the British architect David Chipperfield to regenerate Berlin's Museum Island, the city's historical heart boasting five museums in the former communist east, could be derailed because of the project's cost.

German federal auditors have criticised the scheme for a new entrance building which would lead to the neo-classical museums - including the Pergamon and its renowned collection of antiquities - by a series of tunnels. . .

The tunnels would be expensive to construct because the museums were surrounded by water. "The floor of the Pergamon museum would have to be sunk," said the spokesman. "Technically, this is extremely difficult."

The criticism threatens to sink the master plan for Museum Island, a world heritage site and pedestrian area.

Full story here; the Museumsinsel master plan site is here.

Posted by David on November 22, 2004 7:41 PM