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A planning history in two phases
Despite its architectural language referring to antiquity, the interior of the Alte Nationalgalerie is traversed by steel structures that were ultra-modern for their time.
The version realized around 1870 was preceded by an eventful planning history. The first, still very traditional structural design underwent significant changes. The "update" is associated with a change in the overall management of the museum building from Friedrich August Stüler (1800-1865) to Johann Heinrich Strack (1805-1880).
The "technological quantum leap" between the two concepts is particularly evident in the roofing of the so-called Erster Corneliussaal. The development can be explored in detail in the interactive Govie on the hidden structure. The adjacent photo from 1993 shows the roof structure above the Erster Corneliussaal with the old skylight ceiling still in place before the new Caspar-David-Friedrich Hall was installed here as part of the general refurbishment (1998-2001).
A building history in 30 seconds
Construction of the building under the new management of Heinrich Strack began a year after Stüler's death. In April 1866, the museum administration handed over the designated building site to the building commission entrusted with the construction of the museum.
In contrast to the Neues Museum, reliable building ground was found at a shallow depth, so that the foundation work progressed quickly. The foundation stone was laid as early as December 1867.
In 1871, the steel roof truss was erected and the shell of the building was completed.
The finishing took another five years. On March 21, 1876, the Nationalgalerie was officially opened in the presence of Wilhelm I, who had meanwhile become Emperor. The photograph shows the building in 1902.
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Structural planning in the first phase (1862-65)
We know from the planning of the Neues Museum, also designed by Friedrich August Stüler (1800-1865), that his site manager Hoffmann played a decisive role in the design and dimensioning of the new type of iron structures.
Could it be similar here? There is evidence that a "Busse" employee drew numerous detailed construction plans. However, not even his identity has been clearly established. It is likely that he was Carl Busse (1834-96), a son of long-time director of the Bauakademie Carl Ferdinand Busse, who had passed his "Baumeister" examination at the Bauakademie in 1863 and should therefore have been sufficiently qualified in structural engineering. However, Busse's enotes on two surviving sheets ("Drawn up by Busse - Baumeister - 3/65 according to the sketches and verbal instructions of the Geheimer Ober-Bau-Rath Stüler") suggest that his role was limited to that of a draughtsman.
This would make Stüler himself responsible not only for the architecture, but also for the structural design. It would not be surprising: like Schinkel, he was open to the new structural engineering options.
Structural planning in the second phase (1865-71)
It is more difficult to answer the question of who was responsible for the structural design in the second, subsequently realized planning phase. It was almost certainly not the leading architect Heinrich Strack. His more architectural interests are too obvious, which do not fit in with the modern steel structures of the 1870s used here.
Instead, there is much to suggest that Georg Erbkam (1811-1876) was the father of the roof structures. The "technical supervision" of the building project assigned to him is just as much an indication as the determined interest in construction that characterises the "Zeitschrift für Bauwesen", which he published. On the other hand, all the planning documents are signed by a "Baumeister Reinicke". There are many indications that Reinicke, who was in charge of construction management until 1873, was at least responsible for the detailing and dimensioning of the roof structure and probably even contributed to the design of the construction. Although he is explicitly mentioned in the foundation stone document, he remains virtually unknown. Research into his life and work has so far been unsuccessful. It is probably appropriate to name Erbkam and Reinicke together as structural designers.
Key data
Location: Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin-Mitte
Construction period: 1866-76
Overall and structural planning until 1865:
- Friedrich August Stüler
Overall planning from 1865
- Heinrich Strack
Structural design from 1865:
- Georg Erbkam
- Baumeister Reinicke
The illustration shows a drawing made by Reinicke of the roof and skylight constructions above the two Cornelius Halls.
