On the Way to the Humboldt-Forum

Dismantling, not Demolishing

Cranes were used to dismantle the Palace of the Republic step-by-step in the reverse order in which it was built.

Although this may seem elaborate, there are great advantages to such a procedure:

• Berlin's sensitive inner city area - with its historical structures and streams of tourists visiting the Nikolai District, Cathedral and Museum Island - was spared air and sound pollution to the greatest extent possible.
• The materials removed from the Palace were easier to sort and can be used, recycled or disposed of afterwards in an environmentally friendly manner.

During the dismantling process, the reinforced concrete "Bodenwanne" (base tub) that acted as the Palace's foundation - i.e. the part of the building that is underground - remained intact and should be able to be integrated into any new structure built as part of the Humboldt-Forum.

Due to unexpected discovery of asbestos the completion was delayed until 2009. The company responsible for the job is DSK Deutsche Stadt- und Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft (DSK City and Property Development Company).

Photos / Movies about the dismantling of the Palace of the Republic