Alte Kommandantur
Encyclopedia
The Alte Kommandantur is a building in the historic center of Berlin
, which had been heavily damaged during World War II
and destroyed in order to make room for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of East Germany.
The original building was in the baroque
style, built by architect Johann Gregor Memhardt
, and enlarged in 1795, and modified again in 1873 in a neo-Renaissance
style.
In 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of East Germany itself was demolished in order to recreate the Werderscher Markt area.
The Alte Kommandantur has been rebuilt by Bertelsmann
to become its Berlin headquarters with the prestigious address Unter den Linden
1. Since no plan was available, the building was designed based on historic pre-war photographies and testimonies. The building was completed in November 2003.
Critics of this reconstruction see it as an example of the Disneyfication
of the center of Berlin.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, which had been heavily damaged during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and destroyed in order to make room for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of East Germany.
The original building was in the baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style, built by architect Johann Gregor Memhardt
Johann Gregor Memhardt
Johann Gregor Memhardt or Memhard was a master builder, architect and politician.-Life:Memhardt emigrated from Linz to the Netherlands in 1622, where he probably learned the art of fortification. He served as a military engineer with George William, Elector of Brandenburg from 1638 onwards and in...
, and enlarged in 1795, and modified again in 1873 in a neo-Renaissance
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
style.
In 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of East Germany itself was demolished in order to recreate the Werderscher Markt area.
The Alte Kommandantur has been rebuilt by Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann AG is a multinational media corporation founded in 1835, based in Gütersloh, Germany. The company operates in 63 countries and employs 102,983 workers , which makes it the most international media corporation in the world. In 2008 the company reported a €16.118 billion consolidated...
to become its Berlin headquarters with the prestigious address Unter den Linden
Unter den Linden
Unter den Linden is a boulevard in the Mitte district of Berlin, the capital of Germany. It is named for its linden trees that line the grassed pedestrian mall between two carriageways....
1. Since no plan was available, the building was designed based on historic pre-war photographies and testimonies. The building was completed in November 2003.
Critics of this reconstruction see it as an example of the Disneyfication
Disneyfication
Disneyfication is a term which describes the transformation of something, usually society at large, to resemble The Walt Disney Company's theme parks. The latter term appears in Sharon Zukin's book, The Cultures of Cities , and was popularized by Alan Bryman in a 2004 book, The Disneyization of...
of the center of Berlin.