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A first predecessor from 1776 only lasted 50 years
There is said to have been a crossing here, where the Spree and the Spree canal meet again at the tip of today's Museum Island, as early as the 18 th beginning century.
The construction of a wooden bridge in 1776 has been confirmed, but the crossing only lasted 50 years. The bridge was demolished in 1826 and rebuilt a little further upstream as a bascule bridge. Under the name "Mehlhausbrücke" or "Mehlbrücke", it provided access to the "Mehlhaus" (flour house) of the Berlin bakery guild built at this point on the island until 1899 (left in the illustration).
A first predecessor from 1776 only lasted 50 years
There is said to have been a crossing here, where the Spree and the Spree canal meet again at the tip of today's Museum Island, as early as the 18 th beginning century.
The construction of a wooden bridge in 1776 has been confirmed, but the crossing only lasted 50 years. The bridge was demolished in 1826 and rebuilt a little further upstream as a bascule bridge. Under the name "Mehlhausbrücke" or "Mehlbrücke", it provided access to the "Mehlhaus" (flour house) of the Berlin bakery guild built at this point on the island until 1899 (left in the illustration).
The Monbijou Bridge was built together with the Kaiser Friedrich Museum
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that a bridge was to be built on the original site. This was prompted by the construction of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum (today Bode-Museum), which was built from 1897 as the fourth main building on Museum Island. As its main entrance faced the tip of the island, two new bridges over the Spree and the Spree canal were to provide access.
Ernst von Ihne (1848-1917), the architect of the museum building, was commissioned with the design. He adapted the shape of the two partial bridges, built of Silesian sandstone, to its neo-baroque façades. The much wider Spree bridge was divided into two bays by a river pier. On the northern bank of the Spree, the organic subsoil with low load-bearing capacity required a complex caisson foundation extending 10 m below the river bed, while the other abutments could be constructed as flat tamped concrete structures.
In 1904, the double bridge was opened under the name "Monbijou Bridge" in reference to the nearby Monbijou Palace.
The Monbijou Bridge was built together with the Kaiser Friedrich Museum
It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that a bridge was to be built on the original site. This was prompted by the construction of the Kaiser Friedrich Museum (today Bode-Museum), which was built from 1897 as the fourth main building on Museum Island. As its main entrance faced the tip of the island, two new bridges over the Spree and the Spree canal were to provide access.
Ernst von Ihne (1848-1917), the architect of the museum building, was commissioned with the design. He adapted the shape of the two partial bridges, built of Silesian sandstone, to its neo-baroque façades. The much wider Spree bridge was divided into two bays by a river pier. On the northern bank of the Spree, the organic subsoil with low load-bearing capacity required a complex caisson foundation extending 10 m below the river bed, while the other abutments could be constructed as flat tamped concrete structures.
In 1904, the double bridge was opened under the name "Monbijou Bridge" in reference to the nearby Monbijou Palace.
The northern bridge was blown up right before the end of the war
Hitler's work of destruction culminated in 1945 in the "Nero orders" of March 19 and April 7, which included the destruction of all relevant Berlin bridges. Like many others, the Northern Monbijou Bridge was blown up by German troops immediately before the end of the war.
The northern bridge was blown up right before the end of the war
Hitler's work of destruction culminated in 1945 in the "Nero orders" of March 19 and April 7, which included the destruction of all relevant Berlin bridges. Like many others, the Northern Monbijou Bridge was blown up by German troops immediately before the end of the war.
The temporary bridge built in 1950 still made use of the river pier
In 1950, a steel temporary bridge covered with wooden planks was built in its place. For five decades, it served as a pedestrian bridge and at the same time as a crossing for necessary supply lines.
With the general refurbishment of the Bode Museum (2000-2006), the desire to restore the original representative ensemble grew. A faithful reconstruction of the northern bridge was, of course, no longer an option: the clearance profile of 21 m required for a new bridge no longer allowed for a river pier in the middle of the bridge.
The decision was made in favor of a single-span bridge, the architectural shape of which was to take up the materiality and arch form of the southern Monbijou Bridge and convey the "spirit and style of the historical construction".
The temporary bridge built in 1950 still made use of the river pier
In 1950, a steel temporary bridge covered with wooden planks was built in its place. For five decades, it served as a pedestrian bridge and at the same time as a crossing for necessary supply lines.
With the general refurbishment of the Bode Museum (2000-2006), the desire to restore the original representative ensemble grew. A faithful reconstruction of the northern bridge was, of course, no longer an option: the clearance profile of 21 m required for a new bridge no longer allowed for a river pier in the middle of the bridge.
The decision was made in favor of a single-span bridge, the architectural shape of which was to take up the materiality and arch form of the southern Monbijou Bridge and convey the "spirit and style of the historical construction".
Today, a steel box girder forms the structure
From a structural point of view, however, a real arch structure was out of the question for several reasons. It would have had to be extremely flat at the apex due to the required height of the clearance profile and, above all, it seemed almost impossible to safely transfer the arch thrust, especially at the northern abutment.
It was precisely because of these problematic foundation conditions that the client ultimately decided - against the planners' vote - in favour of a steel beam bridge.
As a result, the natural stone cladding conceals a simple single-span beam as the load-bearing structure, which also becomes higher and higher ("haunched") towards the abutments in a reversal of the load curve.
Today, a steel box girder forms the structure
From a structural point of view, however, a real arch structure was out of the question for several reasons. It would have had to be extremely flat at the apex due to the required height of the clearance profile and, above all, it seemed almost impossible to safely transfer the arch thrust, especially at the northern abutment.
It was precisely because of these problematic foundation conditions that the client ultimately decided - against the planners' vote - in favour of a steel beam bridge.
As a result, the natural stone cladding conceals a simple single-span beam as the load-bearing structure, which also becomes higher and higher ("haunched") towards the abutments in a reversal of the load curve.
Completed in 2006, but not uncontroversial
Just in time for the reopening of the Bode Museum, the new northern Monbijou Bridge was opened in October 2006 after 14 months of construction.
If you don't look too closely, the overall aim of the reconstruction, the recovery of the architectural unity of design of the tip of the island, has been achieved to a certain extent. Perhaps the bridge's visual lightness also makes it attractive. Last but not least, it can be argued that just a little way upstream along the Kupfergraben, a very similar steel structure clad in natural stone and still riveted at the time had already been erected a century earlier with the replacement of the "Iron Bridge" (1915/16).
The disconcerting contrast between structure and form, or in other words between appearance and reality, remains. It is commented on in more detail on the virtual model of the hidden structure.
Completed in 2006, but not uncontroversial
Just in time for the reopening of the Bode Museum, the new northern Monbijou Bridge was opened in October 2006 after 14 months of construction.
If you don't look too closely, the overall aim of the reconstruction, the recovery of the architectural unity of design of the tip of the island, has been achieved to a certain extent. Perhaps the bridge's visual lightness also makes it attractive. Last but not least, it can be argued that just a little way upstream along the Kupfergraben, a very similar steel structure clad in natural stone and still riveted at the time had already been erected a century earlier with the replacement of the "Iron Bridge" (1915/16).
The disconcerting contrast between structure and form, or in other words between appearance and reality, remains. It is commented on in more detail on the virtual model of the hidden structure.
Key data
Location: Monbijoustraße, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
Construction period: 2005 – 2006
Design planning: Ingenieurbüro Grassl GmbH, Berlin, with Bernhard Strecker, Berlin
Implementation planning: Krone Ingenieurbüro GmbH, Berlin
Execution of construction work:
- Solid construction: Hochtief Construction AG
- Steel construction: Ambau Stahl- und Anlagenbau GmbH
Key data
Location: Monbijoustraße, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
Construction period: 2005 – 2006
Design planning: Ingenieurbüro Grassl GmbH, Berlin, with Bernhard Strecker, Berlin
Implementation planning: Krone Ingenieurbüro GmbH, Berlin
Execution of construction work:
- Solid construction: Hochtief Construction AG
- Steel construction: Ambau Stahl- und Anlagenbau GmbH
