Picture: Gesa von Grote
The striking building of the Märkisches Museum, the main building of the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008. The year of celebration started with the exhibition “Gefühlte Geschichte” (Hands on History). On the basis of historic photographs of the interior and selected original exhibits, it created a virtual tour through the museum ensemble of 1908 – a vivid picture of the “museum of atmosphere and experience” next to the Köllnische Park one hundred years ago. A presentation of the building’s future perspective as a capital city museum paying tribute to Berlin’s past and present marked the final stage of the anniversary exhibition: in future, the Märkisches Museum and the neighbouring “Marinehaus” will constitute the central location of the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin.
This exhibition about the building’s anniversary supplemented the exhibition “Berlin im Licht” in a smaller area, providing an historical framework to the latter. For both exhibitions, an overall concept was devised to provide a coherent graphic image and incorporate them into the historical building. The exhibition space contained a monumental wall of display cases and presentations, into which a large-scale picture animation was inserted, including a spoken description of the museum by Ludwig Hoffmann. This area also functioned as a location for the extensive programme of accompanying events.