The Pergamon museum's opening scheduled for 2037 may be delayed until as late as 2043, a recent report suggests. As one of Berlin’s largest cultural heritage collections, it has been fully closed for large-scale refurbishment since October 2023 with planned closure ongoing. Until it reopens, you can experience the major parts of the museum collection virtually.
Berlin’s Museum Island, a museum complex on the upper end of the Spree Island in the historical district of Berlin, is host to some of Berlin's most internationally significant museums. The Pergamon Museum, one of the museums situated on the island, was built between 1910 and 1930 and has experienced structural decline over the last century. Citing a desperate need for repairs and reconstruction, the museum was partially closed in 2013 for what it called ‘staggered renovations’ with the second wave of large-scale renovations overseeing the total closure of the museum in 2023 for 14 years.
However, the September 2024 report in Der Spiegel suggests that the renovation project will majorly surpass its deadline, dubbing the building ‘Das Pergamonster’. The plan, which is estimated to cost as much as 1.5 billion euros, is never-the-less underway. One of the major wings is scheduled for clearance and construction preparation in Autumn 2024, while statements from the museum assure that the renovation is scheduled to finish on time, with at least three major halls planned for reopening by 2027.
While the museum is closed, its website offers several ways to experience the collection and its refurbishment, including virtual tours of the Pergamon Alter, the plans for the building, and video footage from the worksites.
image credit: The Pergamon Altar. Photo: Jan Mehlich ©️ CC BY-SA 3.0
