James-Simon-Galerie on Berlin’s Museum Island opens to the public 13 July 2019
The James-Simon-Galerie, the new entrance building to Berlin’s Museum Island, opens to the public 13 July 2019. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has attended the official opening ceremony today.
As the first new building on the Island in almost 100 years, the James-Simon-Galerie completes the ensemble of five museums. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, Berlin’s Museum Island is visited by about three million people every year.
Linking four of the five museums via the Archaeological Promenade below ground, the James-Simon-Galerie plays an essential role in the Museum Island master plan, which set out a framework for developing a modern museum complex while preserving the unique historical ensemble.
As the new gateway to the Museum Island, the James-Simon-Galerie with a floor area of 10,900 m² is suitable for welcoming large numbers of visitors, housing all the facilities required by the contemporary museum-goer as well as a temporary exhibition space and an auditorium. A grand staircase, terrace with café and new courtyard will be accessible to the public outside opening hours, further extending the public realm of the Museum Island.
Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König has published a book on the building :
James-Simon-Galerie Berlin
David Chipperfield Architects