The British Museum in London, the Altes Museum in Berlin, and the Natural History Museum, again in London, all share at least one commonality, and that is their architecture. Those three museums all have prominent pillars surrounding the structure and if one looks at them from the outside, they appear identical, especially the British Museum and the Altes Museum. The Natural History Museum on the other hand is more like a castle with its two identical towers in the middle. It doesnt look like a public figure because of its size, style, and structural design.
The British Museum was designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke in 1823 and just like the Altes Museum, it was inspired by Greek architecture, particularly the Greek Revival Style. This is very evident in the columns of the building. Also in 1823, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a Prussian architect, designed and developed the Altes Museum. Altes in German means old and therefore is just appropriate for what it is already now. It was inspired by Durand which later became a favorite motif of museums. The long colonnades motif, which was also found in Robert Smirkes British Museum is said to have originated from Schinkels idea. Some of the items exhibited on the Altes Museum were antiques, on the ground floor, and paintings on the first floor.
As early as the later part of 1790s, elite members of the Prussian government thought of having a secured place where they can deposit their most precious collections. Furthermore, they believed that with a museum, a large value will be contributed to the states cultural mission. However, there were struggles and issues which delayed the commencement of the project. It was in 1882 when Schinkel took over the project and began to make realizations to the dreams of the Prussian people. Schinkel purposely located the museum on axis with the palace and adjacent to the Cathedral and arsenal, making it the center of the three pillars of the Prussian state. It is also remarkable that the architectural forms used in the museum are normally found in religious buildings where they are reserved. Years after, in 1871, the biggest London museum building came into being in the form of the Natural History Museum. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and it housed the appropriate collections of the British Museum.
The structure was symmetrical, Romanesque with much terracotta and a magnificent flying staircase inside. The idea of the grand staircase must also have been taken from Schinkels Altes Museum. Originally, as previously mentioned, the collections being housed by the Natural History Museum were those of Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and a natural collector, and are part of the British Museum. But as the years pass, the collections grew and required a much larger space, thus the need to create another museum. The location was in South Kensington, the previous location of what was considered as the ugliest building in London, the International Exhibition building. Amazingly, the architect of that building was the same architect who won the design competition for the Natural History Museum. As fate would have it, Francis Fowke, the architect died even before the project was started and so it was passed on to Alfred Waterhouse. Fowkes original design was Renaissance but Waterhouse altered it to German Romanesque.
The three museums namely the British Museum, the Altes Museum, and the Natural History Museum all had a touch of Romanesque architecture characterized by arches and are mostly used in religious buildings such as cathedrals. The reason being probably is because the architects of these buildings believed that art in itself is religion.
The British Museum was designed by the architect Sir Robert Smirke in 1823 and just like the Altes Museum, it was inspired by Greek architecture, particularly the Greek Revival Style. This is very evident in the columns of the building. Also in 1823, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a Prussian architect, designed and developed the Altes Museum. Altes in German means old and therefore is just appropriate for what it is already now. It was inspired by Durand which later became a favorite motif of museums. The long colonnades motif, which was also found in Robert Smirkes British Museum is said to have originated from Schinkels idea. Some of the items exhibited on the Altes Museum were antiques, on the ground floor, and paintings on the first floor.
As early as the later part of 1790s, elite members of the Prussian government thought of having a secured place where they can deposit their most precious collections. Furthermore, they believed that with a museum, a large value will be contributed to the states cultural mission. However, there were struggles and issues which delayed the commencement of the project. It was in 1882 when Schinkel took over the project and began to make realizations to the dreams of the Prussian people. Schinkel purposely located the museum on axis with the palace and adjacent to the Cathedral and arsenal, making it the center of the three pillars of the Prussian state. It is also remarkable that the architectural forms used in the museum are normally found in religious buildings where they are reserved. Years after, in 1871, the biggest London museum building came into being in the form of the Natural History Museum. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and it housed the appropriate collections of the British Museum.
The structure was symmetrical, Romanesque with much terracotta and a magnificent flying staircase inside. The idea of the grand staircase must also have been taken from Schinkels Altes Museum. Originally, as previously mentioned, the collections being housed by the Natural History Museum were those of Sir Hans Sloane, a physician and a natural collector, and are part of the British Museum. But as the years pass, the collections grew and required a much larger space, thus the need to create another museum. The location was in South Kensington, the previous location of what was considered as the ugliest building in London, the International Exhibition building. Amazingly, the architect of that building was the same architect who won the design competition for the Natural History Museum. As fate would have it, Francis Fowke, the architect died even before the project was started and so it was passed on to Alfred Waterhouse. Fowkes original design was Renaissance but Waterhouse altered it to German Romanesque.
The three museums namely the British Museum, the Altes Museum, and the Natural History Museum all had a touch of Romanesque architecture characterized by arches and are mostly used in religious buildings such as cathedrals. The reason being probably is because the architects of these buildings believed that art in itself is religion.
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