Briton accused of 'war cult' redesign at Berlin museum

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From David Crossland in Berlin



A BRITISH architect rebuilding one of Berlin’s finest museums from the bombed ruins in which it has lain since the Second World War has been accused of wrecking German heritage with a design that preserves its wartime damage.

The Historical Berlin Society, a private lobby group, wants all building work to stop immediately and says that David Chipperfield is spoiling a chance to restore the New Museum, which will house the bust of Queen Nefertiti, to its former Prussian splendour.

The building, described as a “Prussian Pompeii” since an American bombing raid on the city blew away its northwestern wing in 1945, is part of a complex of five museums on an island in the Spree river in the heart of eastern Berlin. The city hopes that the “Museum Island” will one day rival the Louvre.

Bernd Wendland, the society’s spokesman, said: “When a Brit won the contract we thought at least he comes from a country that knows how to deal with tradition. But he’s treating the building as if it were a Greek or Roman ruin. No Berliner objects to seeing a few bullet holes in the façades but this design seems to be making a cult out of war damage.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1721468,00.html