The construction of the Berlin City Palace enters a new phase

Berlin - In the center of Berlin, clearer outlines of the old-new landmark of the German metropolis are beginning to take shape these days. The construction of the replica of the former imperial palace is entering its next phase, as workers begin to lay the facade onto the concrete skeleton. Berliners will have to wait another four years for the palace to open to the public, but the builders are confident that there will be no delays.
    The original palace, the city residence of the Hohenzollern ruling family, stood on an island in the Spree near Alexanderplatz until 1950. At that time, the communist regime of the German Democratic Republic ordered the demolition of the building, which had been severely damaged during World War II, and in the 1970s built a parliamentary headquarters on its site, featuring extensive entertainment and restaurant facilities. Officially, it was called the Palace of the Republic, but East Germans nicknamed it "Erich's lantern" after the leader of the GDR, Erich Honecker, and the enormous number of chandeliers in the building.
    After the reunification of Germany in 1990, the palace was closed and underwent an expensive rehabilitation, during which hazardous asbestos insulation was removed. However, in 2003, the Bundestag ultimately decided to demolish the building, and despite protests from some Berliners, it was gradually torn down by 2008. In June 2013, construction began on the replica of the original city palace.
    Before the construction started, there were concerns about delays extending beyond the original schedule and exceeding the budget. These fears were fueled primarily by Berliners' experiences with the similarly grandiose project of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the opening of which continues to be postponed, and whose construction budget has already doubled. However, the city palace is currently rising according to plan.
    "We are currently completing the rough construction, precisely two years after its commencement, as the schedule anticipated," said Manfred Rettig from the Berlin Palace Foundation, which is overseeing the construction. "We have already started cladding the first facades. Given the scope of the work, this should last until the end of next year, after which the interior adjustments will follow. However, we are convinced that we will meet the planned opening date of the palace in 2019," he added.
    "Also, from a budget perspective, we are steadily keeping in the black, and I am convinced that we will not exceed the upper limit of costs set by the Berlin city hall," Rettig also stated. The total budget for the project amounts to 590 million euros (16.2 billion CZK).
    The new city palace will feature a replica of the baroque facade on three sides, while having a modern appearance facing Alexanderplatz. According to Rettig, one preserved portal from the original palace will also be incorporated into the building. The interior spaces will partly serve as galleries, but will also host lectures and cultural events.
    "I know that the demolition of the Palace of the Republic provoked many emotions. However, I believe that the return of the city palace to Berlin is the right step. I am confident that after its opening, it will become one of the capital's main tourist attractions and will be visited by over a million people annually," said Rettig.