The diesel power plant

The new Kunstmuseum (Museum of Art) opens in the old diesel power plant (2) in May 2008. The museum, which has a total floor space of 2,420 m2 will include 1,270 m2 of exhibition space on two floors. The unique diesel power plant building is the most outstanding example of industrial architecture in the Brandenburg region. It is a late-expressionist ensemble with elements of the Neue Sachlichkeit style, i.e. "New Objectivity", the German post-Expressionist movement, and was designed and constructed in 1927/1928 by Werner Issel (1884 - 1974), an architect from Berlin Lichterfelde who specialised in industrial architecture. Issel was considered as one of the main industrial architects of the 20th century; from 1906 to 1966 he designed power plants and industrial buildings to meet rapidly evolving technical requirements in both metropolitan areas and smaller towns.

Now that it has been fully renovated, the overall impact of the architecture of the diesel power plant can once again be appreciated and, in addition to its value in terms of architectural history as a unique industrial building, it is set to make its mark as an outstanding cultural venue of the federal state of Brandenburg.

The architectural practice Anderhalten Architekten, also from Berlin was responsible for its renovation. Anderhalten Architekten have special expertise in the renovation and conversion of prestigious and spatially complex old buildings. The practice's guiding principle "is to implement a dialogue between old and new using simple and pared-back means which represents an architectural synthesis of advanced technology and history".