The coronavirus disrupted plans for the opening of the Humboldt Forum in Berlin

photo: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, © SHF / GIULIANI | VON GIESE

Berlin - In mid-December, the first visitors were supposed to explore the spaces of the Humboldt Forum, a new cultural institution located in the under-construction replica of Berlin's City Palace. However, the extension of the quarantine, which will last in Germany until December 20, will not allow this. Therefore, the Forum has prepared a digital opening, and for now, a glimpse beyond the gate will only be possible with the help of the internet. In the upcoming year, a gradual opening of exhibition spaces is planned, but full accessibility is expected only at the turn of 2021 and 2022.

The new quarter with a courtyard and passage was to be ceremonially opened on December 17. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the premiers of the German federal states agreed that the current epidemic situation requires an extension of the quarantine. Consequently, the Humboldt Forum had to change its plans as well. "We are considering various scenarios," said Forum spokesman Michael Mathis after it became clear that the current strict hygiene measures would not be lifted.

"Extending the measures is necessary and right. However, for us, this means an extraordinary challenge. Although physical visits are not possible, we still want to celebrate the completion of the Humboldt Forum. Therefore, we will start at least digitally," said the head of the Forum, Hartmut Dorgerloh. The digital opening will take place a day earlier than originally planned, on December 16. Dorgerloh added that additional options for electronic tours are being prepared, as the coronavirus is also disrupting other plans for gradual accessibility of the building and collections.

Although the construction is practically finished, exhibitions are prepared, and programs are ready, the Forum will remain closed this year. The coronavirus has disrupted the schedule for next year as well, when an exhibition about the history of the site was supposed to be complemented by a presentation for children and also the cultural project Berlin Global. "The dates will depend on the development of the pandemic and related political decisions," the Forum stated.

Behind the Humboldt Forum as a cultural institution stands the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation with collections of non-European art, Humboldt University, and Berlin. The site for the new institution was chosen as a partial replica of the Hohenzollern Palace, which was heavily damaged during World War II. In 1950, the Communist regime had the ruins leveled and later built the Palace of the Republic on its site, where the parliament of the former GDR met, which was called Erich's chandelier store due to the enormous number of chandeliers and a reference to East German leader Erich Honecker.

After the reunification of Germany, the reconstruction was considered. However, the building was heavily infested with hazardous asbestos, so a demolition was decided upon. The construction of the new building, which is a partial replica of the original palace of the Prussian rulers, began with preparatory work in 2012. The work now has three Baroque and one modern facade and has so far required an investment of 677 million euros (17.7 billion crowns), is practically completed.