University Library, Berlin

 In  1835, architect Kar Friedrich Schinkel was tasked with designing a new building for the library of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität in Berlin. His vision of the Universitätsbibliothek consisted of a three-storey structure, roughly of the same height as the Prinz-Heinrich-Palais (the university main building), to be located in the university garden, on the corner of Dorotheenstraße and Universitätstraße, with entrances both on Universitätstraße and within the university garden.

Like the contemporary Bauakademie, the University Library moved away from classicism and other past architectural styles, with the façade featuring no capitals, freezes nor entablature. IInstead, it consisted of nineteen and eleven arches on its longer and shorter sides respectively, and simple towers on each corner. Holes above the arches were part of the drainage system of the roof, which was hidden behind the high walls.

Internally, Schinkel conceived the library as a continuous hallway, centered around the central courtyard. and bookcases were to ne placed in between the windows. Access to the upper floors was to be provided by a large spiral staircase in the centre of the courtyard, which would divide the latter in two.

 King Friedrich Wilhelm IV found the design too simplistic, so Scinkel went on to make slight changes. Rather than presenting a new design altogether, he modified the existing one by adding ornamentation (most notably, two rows of statues above the entrances) and changing the shape from a rectangle to a square with fifteen arches per side, Except for the inclusion of a basement, the internal distribution would remain the same as that of the preceeding design. This second incarnation of the library was to be located directly behind the Prinz-Heinrich-Palais, and alligned with its central axis.

Unfortunately, neither of these designs was built, and the Universitätsbibliothek remained housed in the Old Library (popularly known as the Kommode)  at Opernplatz until the construction of Spieker's building in 1874.

Schinkel's drawings were preserved and can be seen here.

Ladies and gentlemen, I want to let you all know that I will no longer make any uploads to the 3D Warehouse, since the changes in terms and conditions as set by Trimble - they require me to accept in order for me to access it, despite me having had a preexisting account - and the fact that some of my models have been either deleted or hidden from public view - as you can see scrolling down the blog.

Thus, unless otherwise stated on this same platform (i. e. my blog), all updates and pictures of new models will be published here, along with material from those models made unavailable by Trimble.

I'll see you soon.

New: Hamburg Cathedral

After a long absence, I've decided to present my latest model that has its setting in Germany. Now that Google has effectlibly baanned new models from the Google Earth 3D layer, I've been spending my time in reconstructions. This one was especially difficult, since the structure it attempts to resemble was demolished long before any photos of it could be taken.

Hamburg Cathedral was originally built as a wooden chapel in the 9th century, soon after it became the seat of the joint Diocese of Hamburg and Bremen. In the elenventh century, Archbishop Adalbrant ordered the construction of a new brick cathedral along his castle. Construction of a third, Brick Gothic cathedral began under Gebhard, Prince Archbishop of Bremen. The new building was consecrated by Archbishop Burchard in 1329. By the mid 15th century, two naves and a tower had been added to the three nave church, and an additional hall was built in the early 16th century.

16th century annex to the cathedral (source)

The decadence of the cathedral started soon after the city's conversion to Lutheranism. It became isolated as a Catholic temple in a Protestant city, and even after it was reopened as a Lutheran parish, its situation as an enclave of the former Archbishopric, now Duchy of Bremen, made its administration difficult. After the Imperial Mediatisation of 1803, the Duchy ceded the former cathedral to the City of Hamburg. The Senate decided to demolish the structure soon after.

I'm posting screencaps by now. A KMZ file will be avaliable for download soon.

 Side view

Overview

Schloss Herrenhausen

c. 1900

First built in the 17th century, Herrenhausen was conceived as a Baroque summer residence for the Princes of Lüneburg. The palace was developed on the grounds of a previous guest house. The building was enlarged in 1676 under Prince Johann Friedrich of Calenberg, and later under Ernest August I and George I Louis, who was in personal union Elector of Hanover and King of Great Britain.

Herrenhausen in 1670 and 1764

 George II of Great Britain, born in Herrenhausen Palace in 1683

The palace was rebuilt as a neoclassical residence by architect Georg Ludwig Laves in 1820 under the regency of the Crown Prince, later George IV. In addition to the palace, a large baroque garden had been developed on the course of decades, and was considered to one of the most beautiful in continental Europe.

 Herrenhausen Palace and gardens c. 1880

On October 1943 Hannover was bombed by RAF. Incendiary bombs fell over the city, already damaged by another bombing nine days earlier. While several sections of Herrenhausen garden survived, including the pavillions and fountains, the palace itself was destroyed.

(source: Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung)

In 2007 the state government of Lower Saxony made public plans for its reconstruction. The former palace was rebuilt between 2011 and 2013, and was inaugurated by Lord Mayor Stephan Weil, Minister-President David McAllister, HRH Princess Beatrice of York, and HRH Princess Eugenie of York on 18 January 2013.

Schinkel's Observatory

Haus Vaterland

Coming soon

Dresdner Altstadt (II)

Dresdner Altstadt