Chipperfield at the Design Museum

Despite having recently finished its four month stint at the Design Museum, the exhibition of David Chipperfield Architects projects will continue to be an influence on all who saw it.

The exhibition combined models, drawings and photographs to provide an insight into the architect’s works. All the models were finished to a high standard but overall there seemed to be a lack of initial design work exhibited. A more confident unfinished presentation showing schemes from concept to reality would have been appreciated by the public. One of the most extensive proposals on show detailed the renovation of the Neues Museum, Berlin. The presentation included small scribbled sketches on paper trough to finished sections and working drawings, large exploratory models through to finished presentational mock-ups. Garnishing the walls were photographs of the interiors and construction work. Taken using an analogue camera the grain of the photographs perfectly captures the juxtaposition of the old and new parts of the building.


The Neues Museum was heavily bombed in the Second World War and had remained near derelict for sixty years. In 1997 David Chipperfield Architects and the conservationist Julian Harrap won a competition to renovate the museum therefore completing one of Berlin’s main tourist attractions, Museum Island. In their proposal they preserved many of the building’s original features, in some cases removing sections of wall that had been painted over. The building had sustained a lot of damage. Rain-damaged ceilings had to be restored and preserved columns reinstated. In a short film displayed at the exhibition David Chipperfield described how during the design stages of the project they felt it necessary not to try to renovate Stüler’s original designs, but to add something new. In homage to the original museum Chipperfield used the same proportions of many of the original features but re-imagined them in a contemporary way. The main staircase in particular uses the exact same proportions as Stüler’s design but crafts them in a modern way, free of ornamental gestures. In doing so Chipperfield has freed the museum and made it more democratic. The architect added some of his own touches including a large dome adorning one of the gallery rooms. By preserving the life of the building he has fought off criticism some might have had about the changes he made. Many conservation groups were keen to preserve the original Stüler design leaving Chipperfield with an archaeological conservation. But his design has preserved key aspects from the buildings past and brought the museum into the 21st Century. The building comes across well at the exhibition. The old and new features are well matched and spatial arrangements are maintained to preserve the power of the building. Plans are in motion to connect the whole of Museum Island via underground passageways.


The exhibition was a resounding success, remaining busy up until its closure. It confirmed a tour de force in model making and gave an informative insight into one of Britain’s most celebrated architects. His sensitive and thoughtful work has seen his buildings realised all across the world. So when you’re on your travels make sure to find out if he’s built anything in the area. Pay a visit; I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.


The David Chipperfield exhibition is now moving on to the Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza in Spain.