Restoration and modernisation of Georg Kolbe’s former home and outdoor spaces in compliance with the requirements of historically classified structures

Culture, Museum, Monument, Project Management

Georg Kolbe’s residence and studio from 1928/29 are located in Sensburger Allee in the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in the immediate vicinity of the Grunewald forest and the Heerstraße forest cemetery, and together they are now listed as a historical monument. The Swiss architect Ernst Rentsch designed an ensemble of buildings for the forest property consisting of the sculptor’s former studio and home (now the museum), the former home of his daughter Leonore (now Café K), and a natural garden. Thanks to characteristic features such as a linear formal language, cubic structures, unplastered facades of yellow and red tinted bricks, and high windows, the ensemble is an important testimony to Berlin architecture of the 1920s.

Due to his many years of commitment as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Muffert, Architect BDA, took over the project management for the renovation and modernisation of Georg Kolbe’s former studio and residency, including the outdoor areas, in compliance with the requirements of historically classified structures.
Central to these responsibilities was to represent of the foundation’s board of directors in all matters concerning the execution of the construction, including everything from contract management and the commercial aspects of the building project, which was funded by the Deutsche Klassenlotterie (German Lottery), to detailed decisions on colour, materials, lighting, etc.
For the architectural work itself Brenne Architekten GmbH was commissioned. Together, their renovation of the museum was not only excellent, but also succeeded in preparing it to meet the growing museum’s future demands.