Careful redesign
for the 21st century

Architecture

The FORUM at the MUSEUMSINSEL® is a representative example of European architectural history and reflects over four centuries.
The oldest building was constructed between 1789 and 1791 in the classicist style and served as the lodge house of the Prussian Freemasons. The Charité Women’s Clinic (built between 1879 and 1882) – today’s Gropius Ensemble – was planned and realized by Martin Gropius in the neo-Renaissance style.

The main telegraph office, built between 1910 and 1916, is characterized by majestic neo-baroque style. The Charité also included the Monbijou House, built in strict neo-baroque style from 1902 to 1906 – today’s Monbijou Residence – and the Ida Simon House, a neoclassical building built from 1908 to 1911 – today the Simon Palais.

The architectural language of the 20th century was consistently continued with the imposing Art Deco Expressionism of the telephone exchange built between 1926 and 1927 and the new women’s clinic of the Charité – now the Bauhaus – built between 1931 and 1933 in the purest Bauhaus style.
The historic building fabric was restored in an authentic and modernized style by the architects Sir David Chipperfield and Patzschke & Partner.