Berlin Palace–Humboldtforum Foundation

The Berlin Palace–Humboldtforum Foundation, formally known in German as Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss, is a German public foundation created to establish the Humboldt Forum within the reconstructed Berlin City Palace. It was formed on 2 July 2009 following federal parliamentary decisions concerning the redevelopment of Berlin’s historic centre. The foundation was established by the German government and operates in close coordination with the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media and other public partners. The foundation’s central role is that of owner, commissioning body and institutional coordinator for the Humboldt Forum building project. It commissioned the construction of the building complex, coordinated the interests of the participating cultural and academic institutions, and was intended to become the building’s future owner. Construction management was assigned to the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning. The foundation’s executive board was appointed on 1 November 2009, and the institution was renamed in January 2016 to reflect the Humboldt Forum’s definitive identity. The project arose from a long-running debate about the future of the site of the former Berlin Palace, which had been demolished after the Second World War and replaced during the German Democratic Republic period by the Palace of the Republic. In 2002, the German Bundestag endorsed the recommendations of an international expert commission concerning the historical centre of Berlin. The decision called for urban redevelopment based substantially on the historic plan of the Spreeinsel and for a building on the palace site whose massing would recall the former palace. It also supported the reconstruction of Baroque façades on the northern, western and southern sides and in the Schlüterhof courtyard, combined with contemporary interior and rear architectural elements. The foundation’s statutory purposes are charitable and include the advancement of art and culture, education, international understanding, tolerance among peoples and cultures, and the preservation of monuments. In pursuit of these purposes, it can organize exhibitions, public events, readings and other cultural activities. It also coordinates the building’s relationship with the institutions that occupy or use the Humboldt Forum. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation is to present collections from Berlin’s Ethnological Museum and Museum of Asian Art, while the State of Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin are additional institutional partners. The foundation provides suitable premises to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation without charge under the project’s institutional arrangements. Fundraising has been another important responsibility. The reconstruction of the Baroque façades was estimated to cost substantially more than a fully contemporary exterior, with the additional cost identified in project materials as approximately 80 million euros. The foundation works with private associations and fundraising bodies, including the Förderverein Berliner Schloss, to receive and administer donations for the historic façades and related construction purposes. This public-private funding model became a defining feature of the project and contributed to continuing debate about historical reconstruction, public expenditure, cultural representation and the symbolism of rebuilding the former royal palace. The completed building was conceived as a multidisciplinary cultural and knowledge centre rather than simply a reconstructed palace. The planned uses include non-European collections, exhibitions, research-related activities, educational programming and public interpretation of Berlin’s historical centre and the meaning of reconstruction. The foundation’s own permanent exhibition concept focused on the theme “Historical Centre Berlin – Identity and Reconstruction.” Through its ownership, coordination, fundraising and cultural programming…

The foundation belongs to a larger federal project to redevelop the historic centre of Berlin and create a major cultural institution on the site of the former Berlin Palace. The historical palace had been heavily damaged during the Second World War and demolished in the post-war period. During the German Democratic Republic era, the Palace of the Republic occupied the site. After German reunification, the future of the area became the subject of architectural, political and cultural debate. On 4 July 2002, the German Bundestag endorsed the recommendation of an international commission examining Berlin’s historical centre. The decision supported redevelopment of the Spreeinsel broadly according to the historic urban plan and called for a building on the palace site whose volume would recall the former City Palace. It also backed the reconstruction of Baroque façades on the north, west and south sides and in the Schlüterhof courtyard. The decision established the political basis for a project combining historical reconstruction with contemporary cultural use. A competition for reconstruction of the Berlin City Palace and construction of the Humboldt Forum was announced by the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning on 21 December 2007. The winning design was submitted by the Italian architect Franco Stella. The project envisaged a building with historically derived exterior façades toward the principal urban spaces and modern elements supporting museum, educational and public functions. Structural work began in June 2013. The Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace was established on 2 July 2009 by the German government. Its executive board was appointed later that year. The foundation was designed to be the project’s commissioning institution and future owner, while the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning remained responsible for construction management. Its mandate extended beyond construction: it was required to coordinate the interests of the project’s partners, organize cultural programming and support the long-term operation of the complex. The foundation’s statutes define exclusively and directly charitable purposes. These include promoting art and culture, education, international understanding, tolerance in cultural affairs and monument preservation. This statutory framework allowed the foundation to combine property stewardship with cultural and educational responsibilities. It also enabled the organization of exhibitions, readings, events and other public activities connected with the Humboldt Forum. The future cultural program was structured around several partners. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation planned to present the non-European collections of Berlin’s Ethnological Museum and Museum of Asian Art, particularly on the upper floors. The State of Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin were also included as institutional partners. The foundation was to provide suitable premises to the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation free of charge, making it a coordinating and enabling institution rather than the sole museum operator. A major element of the project was the financing of the reconstructed façades. Project materials identified an additional cost of about 80 million euros compared with a fully contemporary façade solution. Private fundraising organizations, especially the Förderverein Berliner Schloss, collected donations for the Baroque exterior. The foundation acted as a cooperation partner for private fundraising initiatives and received donations intended to finance the historic façades and associated construction work. In January 2016, the foundation changed its name to Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss. The renaming reflected the transition from a project-oriented foundation associated with the Berlin Palace reconstruction to an institution identified with the completed Humboldt Forum. Its planned permanent exhibition, “Historical Centre Berlin – Identity and Reconstruction,” was intended to explain the history of the site, the architectural choices and the wider significance of rebuilding a historically charged urban landmark. The foundation’s history is therefore inseparable from debates over reconstruction, public funding, heritage, colonial-era collections, cultural representation and the role of major state-supported institutions. Its principal contribution has been institutional: it brings together the federal government, construction authorities, museums, academic bodies, donors and public audiences around the development and stewardship of the Humboldt Forum.

• 2016

  Institution renamed

  [1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation adopted the name Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss in January 2016.

• 2013

  Structural construction begins

  [1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Structural work on the reconstructed Berlin Palace and Humboldt Forum complex began in June 2013.

• 2009

  Foundation established

  [1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation was formed on 2 July 2009 as the federal project body for the Humboldt Forum and future owner of the building.

• 2007

  Competition for the Berlin Palace reconstruction announced

  [1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning announced an architectural competition for the reconstructed palace and Humboldt Forum complex.

• 2002

  Bundestag endorses the historical-centre redevelopment framework

  [1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  The German Bundestag accepted recommendations supporting redevelopment of the Spreeinsel according to the historic urban plan and a palace-like building with reconstructed Baroque façades.

Public cultural foundation and project owner responsible for the development, stewardship and cultural coordination of the Humboldt Forum in the reconstructed Berlin Palace.

• 2004Fundraising for the reconstructed Baroque façades

  Germany

  Private fundraising for the historic façades was organized through the Förderverein Berliner Schloss and related supporters. The foundation served as a cooperation partner for donation collection connected with the reconstruction project.

  Outcome. The campaign became an important part of financing the additional cost of the historically reconstructed exterior.

  Source

• 2016

  Rename the foundation around the Humboldt ForumStrategy

  Background

  The institution’s role was increasingly focused on the Humboldt Forum as the long-term cultural destination of the reconstructed building.

  Action taken

  The foundation changed its name to Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss.

  Aftermath

  The new name aligned the foundation’s identity with the cultural institution and building it was created to deliver and steward.

  Source

• 2009

  Create a dedicated public foundationStrategy

  Background

  The federal government needed an institutional body capable of commissioning the building, coordinating partners and managing the future cultural property.

  Action taken

  The Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace was established as a charitable public foundation.

  Aftermath

  The foundation became the project’s commissioning body and planned future owner, with responsibilities extending to cultural programming and partner coordination.

  Source

• 2007

  Select Franco Stella’s designOther

  Background

  A federal architectural competition was held for the reconstruction of the Berlin Palace and the construction of the Humboldt Forum.

  Action taken

  The competition jury selected Franco Stella’s proposal.

  Aftermath

  The design became the architectural basis for the subsequent construction project.

  Source

• 2002

  Adopt a historically based redevelopment conceptStrategy

  Background

  The future of Berlin’s historic centre and the former palace site was being reconsidered after reunification.

  Action taken

  The Bundestag endorsed a framework based on the historic urban plan, the former palace’s building volume and the reconstruction of selected Baroque façades.

  Aftermath

  The decision created the political foundation for the Berlin Palace reconstruction and the later Humboldt Forum project.

  Source

• 2016

  Foundation renamed Stiftung Humboldt Forum im Berliner Schloss[1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The institution adopted a name directly identifying it with the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palace.

• 2009

  Foundation established for the Humboldt Forum project[1]Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The German government established the foundation to commission the Humboldt Forum, coordinate its partners and assume future ownership of the building.

1. 1Foundation for the Humboldt Forum in the Berlin Palaceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Berlin Palace–Humboldtforum Foundation official websitesbs-humboldtforum.de