On the Way to the Humboldt-Forum

The Decision

In July 1999, the Federal Government and the Berlin Senate agreed to create a commission of experts. This commission's first task would be to consider suggestions for the continuing urban development of the "historical national centre" in the area surrounding the former City Palace. The commission was not given any guidelines with respect to a specific architectural language or to the question of the preservation or dismantling of the Palace of the Republic.

At the end of October 2000, seventeen members were chosen from different disciplines - along with six moderators from the political and administrative communities - to officially form the "Berlin Historical Centre" International Expert Commission.

The Commission first dealt with the actual usage of the space. This contrasted with the debate until then, which had concentrated more on the space's architectural form.

Experts, institutions and interest groups were invited to present their ideas at a public hearing in April 2001. In order to gain an overview of the projects and concepts, the Commission also began archival work and initiated an exhibition on the concepts submitted up to that time.

On April 17, 2002, the Commission presented its final report. Its core recommendations included the following:

• considerable recourse should be taken to the historical city layout in the sense of a "critical reconstruction"
• dismantling of the Palace of the Republic
• construction of a building to be used for cultural and scientific purposes as part of a "Humboldt-Forum" that would orient itself to the shape of the former City Palace
• reconstruction of the northern, western and southern Baroque façades as well as the Schlüter Courtyard

A vote in the Bundestag (Federal Parliament) on July 4, 2002, gave a resounding, cross-factional 'yes' to the first three points (513 of the 589 parliament members present or 87 percent voted 'yes'). With a clear majority of 65 percent, the Bundestag also voted for the recommended reconstruction of the Prussian Palace façades.

On November 13 2003 a large majority of the German Bundestag transcending party lines once more confirmed its approval on the recommendations of the International Expert Commission, to reconstruct the Berlin Royal Palace and build the Humboldt-Forum.

Architectural Competition