Märkisches Museum Berlin (Germany) – Brick portal from 1316
Monumental Brick Portal from 1316 of the Former ‘High House’ of Berlin in the Märkisches Museum
Restoration-conservation specialist planning services for the concept and planning of the translocation of the monumental brick portal from 1316 from the “High House” within the Märkisches Museum in Berlin / Germany
The monumental brick portal, dating back to 1316 and originally a part of the High House in Berlin, is now housed in the Märkisches Museum. This portal is an impressive testament to medieval architecture, showcasing Berlin’s rich historical and cultural past. The High House, known as the oldest residence of the Margraves of Brandenburg in Berlin, symbolizes the city’s most significant secular medieval structure before the construction of the castle in the 15th century.
After 1451, the use of the High House changed several times; since the 17th century, it underwent various modifications and expansions. Known as the (Royal) Warehouse, the building with its four courtyards was demolished in May 1931. To great surprise, parts of the High House with the Gothic portal were discovered, previously thought lost. The salvaged portal was promptly relocated to the Märkisches Museum, where it was initially displayed in the Great Hall. After war damages, it was moved in the 1950s to the Gothic Chapel of the museum.
The portal, composed of approximately 2,440 medium-hard fired, reddish bricks and molding stones, is now set to be moved from its current location in the Gothic Chapel of the Märkisches Museum back to the Great Hall. This re-transfer to its original relocation site will allow for an appropriate presentation.
Services
Conceptualization and planning of the translocation of the monumental brick portal from 1316 from the “High House”, within the Märkisches Museum
- Visual-digital recording
- Literature and archive research
- Structural investigations of the portal’s construction
- Mapping, component catalog for dismantling and reconstruction
- Evaluation, planning, and conceptualization of the dismantling and reconstruction
- Preparation of service specifications with cost estimates
Client
Berlin City Museum Foundation
Realization
June 2021 – May 2022
