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Architects: Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos
- Year: 2008
- Photographs: Roland Halbe Fotografie
Text description provided by the architects. The ancient castle of Moritzburg in the city of Halle is a very valuable example of Gothic military architecture, typical of Germany at the end of the 15th century. Its turbulent history has inevitably been reflected in the many alternations it has undergone over the years. But despite these, the building still keeps the original structure of its main architectural features: the surrounding wall, three of the four round towers at the corners and the central courtyard.
The partial destruction of the north and west wings in the 17th century during the Thirty Years War left the castle with the image of a romantic ruin which it has kept over the centuries to today. Except for a stillborn project by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in 1828, until now no integral work has been planned to alter and enlarge the ancient ruin for the art museum housed there since 1904.
A very notable collection of modern art - mainly of German Expressionism - that includes works painted by Lyonel Feininger in the city of Halle has now been enlarged with the Gerlinger donation, one of the most valuable private collections of the Die Brücke Expressionist group.
Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos's design for enlargement is based on a single and clear architectural idea. It involves a new roof, conceived as a large folded platform, which rises and breaks to allow natural light to enter, and from which the new exhibition areas hang. The result of this operation is to free completely the floor of the ancient ruin, providing a unique space that allows a range of exhibition possibilities. This design is complemented with the building of two new vertical communication cores. The first is located in the north wing to connect the levels which must be inter-communicated. The second is a new, contemporary tower, 25 metres high, in the place once occupied by the bastion, which provides access to the new exhibition areas with their distant views over the city.
The angular geometry of the new scenery of roofs and metal tower contrasts with castle’s existing irregular shape and high roof. In spirit with the uneasy and expressive forms painted by Feininger, on display in the museum, the new fragments continue the process of changes that feature in the history of the Moritzburg Castle over time.
