Sunday, June 5, 2011

Jewish Museum


Aerial view of Daniel Libeskind's Jewish Museum. The U-shaped structure on the right is the Kollegienhaus, the former Baroque Prussian courthouse which has since been converted into part of the Berlin Museum. The zigzag structure on the left is Libeskind's building and is based on the plan of an exploded Star of David with lines drawn between the site and former addresses of prominent Jewish figures such as Walter Benjamin and Mies van der Rohe. When this building opened, Time magazine reported that "it instantly made him one of the most sought-after architects in the world."  In February 2003, his design was chosen for rebuilding the 16 acre site of the former World Trade Center. However, that plan has become problematic and he is not able to complete it as envisioned.