deconarch

(I’m citing from Berliner Morgenpost, art Magazin and Baunetz.com for photos)

The dice is cast.

On 28.11.2008 the winner of the competition for the reconstruction of the Berin Stadtschloss has been published: Francesco “Franco” Stella, Italian architect from Vicenza, sees himself as “classical-modern rationalist” following Aldo Rossi. And actually he’s more or less unknown.

Surprisingly the jury chose him in unison. What about the critics about the retro-postulations of the competition few weeks ago (read more here)?

Stella – whose private name is Francesco, but as architect he calls himself Franco – is known as a specialist for building with historical ensembles. so far, he’s only been known among experts. His biggest project is the fair hall in Padova. Since 1990, Stella is professor at the architectural faculty of Genua, and participated  on the Venice Biennial several times.

There’s no English entry to Wikipedia yet (!!), not even an Italian one, only the German Wikipedia has been supplemented with a short entry (which dates from 29./30.Nov.2008).

Yet, he’s not unknown in Berlin – as he took part in the competitions of the Kanzleramt (Chancellery) and the Auswärtiges Amt (State Department). And he was member of the jury of the architectural competition for the area around the Spree Island (on the Spree Island, the so-called Museums Islands, there’s also the Stadtschloss area) …

His entry has been chosen because of his “sensitive treatment of the Eastern facade” – while the Northern, Western, and Southern facades had to be designed in retro-baroque style (replicas of the original palace), as well as the Schlüter Courtyard, the Eastern facade and the interiors were free to design.

We’ll have to wait for the reactions on this decision as well as on, well, let’s face it, the financial situation to clear off. Officially, the construction works are to start in 2010, the budget projected on 552 Mio. Euro (enough?!). And besides – it’s still not really decided what’s to happen with the palace once it ‘ll actually stand: it is thought to house a Humboldtforum. But what’s that?

A lot of questions still wide open.

A little too much retro-ado about nothing?

…………………………..

All competing projects can be seen at Deutsches Kronprinzenpalais,

3. – 21. December

daily, 12.00 – 20.00 h