ARCH162

THE KING’S GIFT TO THE GERMANS The Altes Museum in Berlin was constructed by Karl Friedrich schinkel in 1830, it is an important example of neoclassical architecture. Neoclassical architecture starting in the mid 18th century , it was a return to classical architecture after the excessive styles of Baroque and Rococo.“Schinkel was also a State official, and had been appointed in 1810 to the .Oberbaudeputation (Prussian Board of Works), which reviewed all building projects financed by the State. In this capacity, Schinkel was responsible for architectural aesthetics, and he had the right to change the designs of subordinate architects throughout the State”. Friedrich was a high ranking official and was involved in architecture before making the Altes museum which is a landmark. The building is not a common design for a museum, buildings like this was normally designed for royalty or noble families. In the 19th century the relationship between art and observers evolved so did...

King Frederick William II ordered the construction of the gate after the Batavian Revolution where the Prussians were able to regain the power of the country. The designer was Carl Gotthard Langhans and a t the time he was one of the first German architects to step away from Baroque and begin NeoClassicism. Langhans intent was to use the gate to represent victory.  He got his inspiration from Propylaea in Athens' Acropolis. The word Propylaea means the entryway of a specific place. In Greece it marked the separation of the city to a temple or spiritual place. In Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate marked the entrance to the Unter den Linden and Ebertstrasse , which started off as a simple road but as the monarchy grew in power, the street were completely lined with lime trees and used for only royals to walk under. The Brandenburg Gate was one of eighteen that surrounded the Berlin Custom Walls, unfortunately it's the last one standing. This completely sandstone gate i...