Marinehaus Märkisches Museum

Baujournal

The blog on the construction and renovation work at Köllnischer Park

What's this all about?

Most recent articles

Ecology, Märkisches Museum, Marinehaus

3,4 Tons of History

How do you measure a church bell? 20 August 2026 — Video

Protecting biodiversity

Who lives on the construction site? 2 July 2026 — Judith Jenner

The Building Within a Building

Interview 12 June 2026 — with Martin Krogh / ADEPT

Click here for the interview!

Märkisches Museum, Collection, Wilsnacker Glocke

3,4 Tons of History

How do you measure a church bell? 20 August 2026 — Video

To record the actual dimensions and weight of the Wilsnacker Glocke (Wilsnack bell) at the Märkisches Museum, it was lifted using specialised equipment – for the first time in almost 100 years. A team of experts spent six months preparing for the operation. The video shows the artwork suspended in mid-air.

Ecology, Märkisches Museum, Marinehaus

Protecting biodiversity

Who lives on the construction site? 2 July 2026 — Judith Jenner

The redevelopment of the Marinehaus and the Märkisches Museum takes the needs of their animal inhabitants into account as well. This article explores the role of ecological supervision of construction projects and why it is so important.

Even during her doctoral research, Dr. Sonja Kübler focused on species that inhabit buildings, including birds and bats. In cracks in walls, under overhangs and on or under roofs, the animals raise their young, make use of shelters or find protection from predators and the weather. Drawing on this expertise, the landscape ecologist has taken on the role of ecological construction supervisor (Ökologische Baubegleitung, ÖBB) for the Marinehaus. She monitors compliance with nature conservation requirements during construction and ensures that species protection regulations are observed. “If evidence such as eggshell fragments, feathers or droppings suggests that a building is being used by protected species, suitable alternative habitats or nesting aids must be provided and, where necessary, additional protective measures – known as avoidance measures – must be implemented,” she explains.

^{Black redstart, observed in March 2024 in Berlin's Tiergarten neighbourhood}

^{Sparrow, Passer domesticus Berlin, 24.07.2003 Taxidermy specimen from the Zoology Collection of the Berlin Museum.}^{→ To the online collection (in German)}

^{Berlin fox}

^{Blue tit, observed in September 2022 in the Tiergarten park}

Although the Marinehaus stood vacant for many years, Sonja Kübler found relatively few signs of animal activity. Great and blue tits, wood pigeons, black redstarts and and the occasional pipistrelle bat used the Marinehaus as a habitat. A fox and its cubs also spent time there, although their den was never located. To accommodate the building’s winged residents, nesting boxes were installed on two scaffold structures in the courtyards and on nearby trees, in the hope that the animals would accept them until the renovation is complete. Permanent replacement nesting sites will also be provided on the Marinehaus itself after the redevelopment.

^{Nesting boxes in the courtyard of Marinehaus}

According to Sonja Kübler, the fact that she did not find any more species could be down to the kestrel nesting in the neighbouring building belonging to the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development. Kestrels feed on birds, amongst other things. “They can have a deterrent effect,” she says.

For Sonja Kübler, the work does not end with the initial survey. Throughout the construction process, she continues to inspect the site regularly. Her colleague Beate Kitzmann from the Berlin-Malchow Nature Conservation Association performs the same role at the Märkisches Museum. She almost sounds a little disappointed when asked about her findings. “I expected that animals such as bats would use the decorative façade ornaments or the niches between the brickwork as habitats,” she says. “So far, I haven’t been able to prove that.”

It is not only nesting or roosting sites that require protection, but also places where animals spend time during the day. To date, Beate Kitzmann has documented nesting sites of small birds such as house sparrows, as well as wasp nests on the façade. These have been recorded, but at present do not require compensatory measures.

Following the Clues

For Beate Kitzmann, cooperation with the project team works best when ecological construction supervision is involved from the earliest planning stages. This allows her to gain an overview of which species are living on a site before construction begins – starting out with binoculars and a telephoto lens.

Later, once scaffolding has been erected, she inspects every niche with an endoscope. “There are now models with built-in lights that can be connected to a smartphone,” she explains. “They allow me to look for bat droppings or oily marks left by their fur. Nesting material such as grass or moss can indicate the presence of birds.” During these inspections, the biologist compares her work to that of a detective. Her objective is clear: preserving biodiversity within the city.

^{Pipistrelle bat, observed in October 2024 in Neulewin, Brandenburg}

^{Kestrel, observed at Berlin main station in October 2022}

^{Field wasp, observed at Alexanderplatz in June 2024}

^{Wood pigeon, observed in May 2024 in Berlin's Heinrich-Heine-Straße}

For Beate Kitzmann, species protection and heritage conservation are not contradictory goals. She has worked on projects such as Lichtenberg Town Hall, where installed nesting boxes were painted in the same colour as the building façade and are barely noticeable. On other projects, discreet niches were incorporated into roof structures. According to the expert, even prefabricated bird and bat boxes can be successfully integrated when all parties work together effectively.

What she loves most about her job is that it not only contributes to biodiversity but also provides access to historic buildings and construction projects in ways few people experience. At the Märkisches Museum, she was particularly fascinated by the view over Berlin from the tower. “I can’t wait to visit the fully renovated building,” she says.

About the author

Judith Jenner is a freelance journalist based in Berlin. She specializes in writing about architecture, construction, and urban development. She is particularly interested in the people and stories behind building projects.

Architecture, Marinehaus

The Building Within a Building

Interview 12 June 2026 — with Martin Krogh / ADEPT

The Marinehaus is currently being redeveloped according to plans by the Copenhagen/Hamburg-based architecture firm ADEPT. In this interview, founding partner Martin Krogh explains how the design came about.

At present, the Marinehaus is still a major construction site. The building, which dates back to 1908, is undergoing extensive renovation. Yet even after the redevelopment is complete, its historic character and the traces left by more than 30 years of vacancy will remain visible, the architects from ADEPT explain in this interview.

How did the design for the Marinehaus come about?

Martin Krogh: Alongside many other international firms, we took part in a competition issued by the client’s representative, BIM. Our design needed to stand out clearly and respond to a range of challenges. That is how our idea of a “building within a building” emerged.

What exactly does that mean?

Martin Krogh: The idea is to preserve the historic façade as an outer shell and then create a new, carefully considered intervention inside it. The traces of history remain visible – all the scars and marks the building has acquired over time, including graffiti, old cladding and openings that we are trying to preserve within the space. When entering the building, you still experience the height and volume of the existing structure. The new building element contrasts with this through its simplicity, featuring a delicate form, clear organisation and restrained use of materials. From the outside, our primary aim is to restore the historic appearance of the façade. Through the windows, however, people will be able to see that something new is happening inside.

Has ADEPT worked on any projects with a similar approach?

Martin Krogh: : Similar in terms of use, though not directly comparable, is the Ku.Be Culture and Movement House in Copenhagen, which we completed in 2016. The concept there was to fill an outer shell with several smaller volumes, each serving its own function. However, that project did not directly influence our design for the Marinehaus. The design emerged more from studying the site and the existing building itself.

What makes the Marinehaus project special for ADEPT?

Martin Krogh: For us in Copenhagen, it is highly unusual for a building in such a central location to stand vacant for more than 35 years. Here, buildings normally find a use very quickly. Yet there is something poetic about this situation, which is also reflected in the paintings of the building created by the artist Elisabeth Störmer-Hemmelgarn.

The Marinehaus is intended to be highly flexible after reopening. How does the design support this?

Martin Krogh: : We deliberately designed the new insert using only a small palette of materials and organised it into archetypal spaces that perform very well in terms of ventilation and acoustics. A room intended as an artists’ workshop can therefore function equally well as an office or meeting room. The spaces have a very simple character, which is probably connected to our Nordic background. Danish design is part of our DNA. Context always comes first for us, but a piece of Scandinavian heritage is likely present in every one of our projects.

Why was timber chosen as the primary material for the new insert?

Martin Krogh: Timber is a beautiful, sustainable and timeless material. In some areas, we perforated* the timber surfaces and installed acoustic absorbers* behind them. This helps create a pleasant indoor environment while also improving acoustic performance, which is essential for the building’s functionality. The insert is conceived almost as an object or a piece of furniture. For that purpose, timber is the right choice.

How does the design engage with its surroundings?

Martin Krogh: The Marinehaus has the potential to change its neighbourhood. I can imagine it becoming a gathering place for local residents, and I am already looking forward to its opening.

*Good to know:

What is perforation and what are acoustic absorbers? Read more in the BauNetz Wissen glossary (in German).

Construction, Märkisches Museum

The Mix of Märkisches Museum

Photo gallery 29 April 2026 — with photos by Luca Girardini

The architecture of the Märkisches Museum draws on regional building styles from different historical periods, allowing visitors to wander through a rich variety of spaces and atmospheres. The current redevelopment preserves this architectural heritage while bringing the building into the present day: improving accessibility, creating a new and more spacious entrance area, and upgrading the museum’s technical infrastructure. Photographs from the construction site show how the work is progressing.

The distinctive tower of the Märkisches Museum greets Berliners from afar.

The tower offers panoramic views across Berlin. The redevelopment will, for the first time, make this view accessible to visitors to the Märkisches Museum.

In the future, an elevator will provide low-barrier access to the tower.

A glimpse into the timber roof structure. Parts of this roof space will be altered to create access to the tower. In the visitor area being created here, an opening in the floor will offer views into the entrance hall below.

Baroque basket-handle arches* and groin vaults characterize this ground-floor space. Internal partition walls have been removed from the smaller rooms to create a large exhibition area.

The basement of the Märkisches Museum is currently undergoing structural upgrading. Due to the ground conditions, the building is supported by existing timber piles that extend several metres into the earth; these have been supplemented with micropiles as part of the redevelopment.

The new concrete structure supports a small inner courtyard, which will in future include a new emergency staircase serving as an escape route. Originally, there was soil here. Now, the floor of the courtyard is effectively a flat roof and needs to be drained.

The characteristic bricks that make the Märkisches Museum instantly recognizable from afar also define this space beneath the Gothic chapel. Daylight enters through pointed-arch windows, lending the space a sacred feel.

To protect historic floors and timber panelling from damage during construction, they have largely been covered and screened off.

With the original flooring removed from the former entrance area, the underlying fill material (Schüttung*) has been exposed.

The Wilsnack Bell in the Great Hall of the Märkisches Museum is protected during the construction works by a plywood enclosure.

The architectural diversity of the Märkisches Museum is also reflected in its ceilings. In this otherwise simple exhibition space, an ornate Baroque-style coffered ceiling creates a distinctive atmosphere.

Several large wall-mounted exhibits have been enclosed in protective coverings during the renovation works. The lettering on the walls bears witness to the museum’s activities before its temporary closure.

*Good to know:

What are basket-handle arches and fill material (Schüttung)? Read more in the BauNetz Wissen glossary (in German).

Construction, Marinehaus

Historic Shell

Photo gallery: The stripped-back Marinehaus 19 March 2026 — with photos by Luca Girardini

In the stripped-back Marinehaus, traces of the past meet visions for the future. Photographs from the construction site reveal how decades of alterations and vacancy have transformed the building. At the same time, they offer a glimpse of what the structure is set to become in the years ahead.

The hall structure is the heart of the Marinehaus. Over the years, it was subdivided into office floors through the insertion of intermediate ceilings. The current redevelopment is restoring the spacious character of the hall, reopening the continuous window lines.

Nearly 30 years of vacancy have left their mark on the Marinehaus, which has now been completely stripped back to its structural shell. Graffiti on the walls indicate where the former floors and levels were once located.

Large arched windows spanning several storeys flood the hall with natural daylight. Even after the construction work is completed, these windows will remain fully visible throughout their entire height in the foyer area.

The ground floor and the basement are currently no longer separated by a floor slab.

Extensive historic foundations have been uncovered beneath the demolished floor slab. During the construction work, details are being protected with timber coverings.

Concrete is poured onto the lattice framework of reinforcing steel, creating a stable foundation for the future floor finish. Piles extending up to eight metres into the ground anchor the Marinehaus securely in place.

Even after the redevelopment is completed, the building’s raw brick structure will remain visible, creating a striking contrast with the timber and concrete elements of the new interior additions.

A small room with a distinctive shape. On these walls, the construction team discovered a gallery of pictures that have since been removed. It is a reminder that, even during the years the Marinehaus stood vacant, people were still being creative here.

In the stairwell (left), the historic wall panelling and balustrade were removed to allow for the restoration of the walls as part of the renovation works.

The stairwell in the side wing still reveals remnants of historic plasterwork on its ceilings. As the original structure had deteriorated significantly, the construction team removed the wooden stair treads as part of the renovation works.

Decorative tiles in the entrance area of the historic stairwell are being carefully restored and conserved. Even after the redevelopment is complete, they will continue to convey the charm and character of the building’s original period.

The timber cladding of the roof serves as weather protection during the construction period. Once the redevelopment is complete, the historic roof structure will remain visible above the event hall on the top floor.

Red barriers warn construction workers of potential hazards during the construction works. Building materials and tools are transported throughout the site using a cable hoist.

The exposed former ceiling beams indicate the original storey height of this room in the side wing. To accommodate the new room height, the windows (centre of image) will be repositioned.

Construction, Märkisches Museum, Marinehaus

Cosmos Construction Site

An approach 25 February 2026 — Judith Jenner

The renovation of the Märkisches Museum and the Marinehaus is making steady progress. Amid dust, the noise of machinery and muddy pathways, the first outlines of future spaces are beginning to emerge. A closer look at the construction site cosmos.

^{Marinehaus (left) and Märkisches Museum (right)}

The Märkisches Museum is located in the heart of Berlin, yet remains somewhat hidden. From Jannowitzbrücke, the route leads past the Chinese Embassy into Wallstraße and then along the river Spree. As the river bends gently, the large construction site comes into view. The brick building, with its distinctive tower – often mistaken for a church – rises impressively above the surroundings.

Opposite, on Köllnischer Park, the exterior wall of the Marinehaus is supported by a massive steel structure. Both buildings belong to the Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin. Fences, barriers and a turnstile secure the site.

To view the construction work up close, visitors must register in advance and identify themselves at a white site office container. Strict safety regulations also apply behind the construction fence: hard hats, high-visibility vests and sturdy safety boots are mandatory – even for Stiftung staff members, whom Isabelle Nispel, construction officer at Stadtmuseum Berlin, is guiding through the latest stage of the works.

Wearing full protective equipment, the group enters the first courtyard of the Märkisches Museum. “This will be the new entrance,” explains Isabelle Nispel. One reason for relocating the entrance to the courtyard is the future barrier-free accessibility of the museum, a key element of the redevelopment concept by SSP Rüthnick Architekten. In the future, people with strollers, wheelchairs or walking aids will be able to access all areas of the museum either at ground level or via elevators.

Firmly Anchored

^{In the basement of Märkisches Museum}

The route continues into the basement. Dust fills the air and the sound of heavy machinery echoes through the space as a large drill drives robust piles deep into the ground. Due to their proximity to the river Spree, both the Märkisches Museum and the Marinehaus rest on piles up to eight metres long. To ensure that the basement remains dry and can withstand the high groundwater levels near the river, an additional watertight structure consisting of steel walls and waterproof concrete has been installed at the Märkisches Museum.

A staircase then leads upwards, past spolia carefully “wrapped” in timber protection, and into the museum tower. Daylight streams through the circular ornamental window, revealing an impressive view over the city. Following the reopening, visitors will also be able to enjoy this panoramic outlook.

Directly across the street: The Marinehaus

^{The stripped-back Marinehaus}

On the opposite side of the closed road Am Köllnischen Park sits the Marinehaus. The front section of the multi-storey building has been reduced to little more than its outer shell, which is held in place by heavy steel support structures. “Otherwise, it would collapse in on itself like a house of cards,” Isabelle Nispel explains.

While the Märkisches Museum, with its mixture of architectural styles, feels almost labyrinthine, the Marinehaus in its current state is a vast open space. Construction sites are governed by a simple rule: always watch where you are walking and never walk backwards. Here, however, that is easier said than done. The view extends uninterrupted from the basement to the roof. Colourful graffiti mark the walls, hinting at where individual floors once stood. The building remained vacant for more than 30 years and became a “lost place” and playground for street artists.

Carefully stepping over reinforcing steel bars, visitors make their way across the ground floor and into the dimly lit stairwell at the rear of the building. In the architectural competition, the winning design by the Danish firm ADEPT proposed a multi-storey “building-within-a-building” structure for the stripped-back Marinehaus. In the future, it will serve as a cultural centre, with event spaces, a theatre, workshops, a café and artists’ studios, encouraging creative engagement with the city and its stories.

There is still a considerable amount of construction work ahead before the Märkisches Museum and the Marinehaus can once again be filled with cultural life. This blog will accompany that journey.

*Good to know: What are spolia? Read more in the BauNetz Wissen glossary (in German).

About the author

FAQs on the construction site

Why is the renovation necessary?

The Märkisches Museum in Köllnischer Park – the main building of the Berlin Museum – opened in 1908 as a state-of-the-art museum. At that time, accessibility was not yet as mainstreamed, and museum concepts were very different from those of today. The renovation, based on designs by SSP Rüthnick Architekten, will make the building more accessible to all visitors, including people using wheelchairs and families with strollers. In addition, the museum requires extensive technical and structural upgrades. These include the modernization of lighting and light-blocking systems, as well as the permanent opening of the museum tower to visitors for the first time.

The construction work at the Marinehaus is even more extensive. The building stood vacant for more than 30 years and has undergone several conversions and changes of use throughout its history. For example, in 1970, during its use by the Free German Trade Union Federation (FDGB), intermediate floors were inserted into the hall structure. As part of the current redevelopment, the front building is being completely stripped back to its shell, with only the exterior structure remaining. Inside, a multi-storey timber “building-within-a-building” structure is being constructed according to plans by the Danish architecture firm ADEPT, whose design won an international competition.

How will the buildings be used in the future?

The artistic and curatorial concept for both buildings is currently being developed. At the Märkisches Museum, the permanent and temporary exhibitions will be fundamentally reimagined. Drawing on the outstanding collections of the Berlin Museum, these presentations will combine historical objects with digital media and new forms of museum storytelling.

The Marinehaus is being transformed into a cultural centre and creative living room for all of Berlin. It will feature a large event hall, its own theatre, artists’ studios, a variety of workshops and creative spaces, as well as a place to enjoy food.

Who is funding the renovation?

The project is being financed by the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Berlin, and the Stiftung Deutsche Klassenlotterie Berlin. Responsibility for the construction works lies with BIM Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH, acting as the client’s representative, while the Berlin Museum, as the future user of the buildings, is responsible for the content, programming, and artistic design of both sites.

When will the buildings (re-)open?

The reopening of the Märkisches Museum and the Marinehaus is currently scheduled for 2029.

All posts

3,4 Tons of History	20 August 2026 — Video
Protecting biodiversity	2 July 2026 — Judith Jenner
The Building Within a Building	12 June 2026 — Interview Martin Krogh / ADEPT
The Mix of Märkisches Museum	29 April 2026 — Photos by Luca Girardini
Historic Shell (Marinehaus)	19 March 2026 — Photos by Luca Girardini
Cosmos Construction Site	25 February 2026 — Judith Jenner

Baujournal

Most recent articles

3,4 Tons of History

Watch the video here!

Protecting biodiversity

Read the article here!

The Building Within a Building

Click here for the interview!

3,4 Tons of History

Protecting biodiversity

Following the Clues

The Building Within a Building

The Mix of Märkisches Museum

Historic Shell

Cosmos Construction Site

Firmly Anchored

Directly across the street: The Marinehaus

FAQs on the construction site

All posts

Most recent articles

Watch the video here!

﻿

Read the article here!

Click here for the interview!

Following the Clues

Firmly Anchored

Directly across the street: The Marinehaus

All posts