Annual Report 2010 - Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

Page 102: New exhibition design: Peter Marino modelled the
animal Hall of the Porzellansammlung on Chinese precedents
View of the riesensaal (Giants’ Hall) in the residenzschloss
during construction work
FRoM An open I nG to tH e lAYI nG
oF A Fou n DAtIon Ston e –
tH e WoRK GoeS on!
The opening of the Türckische Cammer and the Albertinum
in March and June 2010 marked the completion of
two very different construction projects. What is still far
from completion is the task of adapting all the buildings
which accommodate the treasures of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen
Dresden to the demands of the 21st century.
And so there was not much time for celebration.
“the palace is finished – it now just needs
to be built!”
The gaps in the facades have been closed, a modern roof
arches over the gables, and there is not a construction
crane in sight. Streams of visitors make their way to the
entrances – this is normality in Dresden’s Residenzschloss.
And yet at the end of 2010 only 3,745 of the eventual 9,375
square metres of exhibition space in the Palace were open
to the public, just over 40 %. Prof. Dr. Dirk Syndram is Director
of the Grünes Gewölbe, the Rüstkammer and thus
also of the Türckische Cammer. The holdings of these
museums, along with those of the Kupferstich­Kabinett
and the Münzkabinett make up the majority of the objects
on display in the present and future exhibitions. In 2004,
the Neues Grünes Gewölbe was opened and in 2006, the
Historisches Grünes Gewölbe, both under Syndram’s directorship.
Even after the opening of the magnificent
Türckische Cammer, there is no time to rest.
Planning the riesensaal: Prof. Dr. Dirk syndram and architect
Philipp stamborski (architekturbüro Peter Kulka)
The next exhibition area, the Riesensaal (Giants’ Hall) on
the second floor of the east wing, is expected to be completed
in 2012. The conceptual plans have already been
completed and the detailed planning process is well under
way, so that when asked about the current state of developments,
Syndram jokes that, “The Palace is finished – it
now just needs to be built!”
The 57 m long, 13 m wide and almost 10 m high Riesensaal
is giant in the most literal sense of the word. Redesigned
by the architect Peter Kulka, the room is to house those
objects with which the armoury of one of the richest ruling
dynasties in the Holy Roman Empire is generally associated:
tournament weapons, ceremonial suits of armour,
as well as edged weapons and firearms of the finest
quality. The Riesensaal will be the first room in an impressive
tour. After seeing this presentation, visitors will proceed
to the Grand Ballroom and the Propositionssaal with
their profusion of precious objects relating to hunting and
princely entertainments. These two halls will be recreated
as they appeared in the mid­19th century – although not
with the same colour scheme. The Turmzimmer (Tower
Room) located between the two halls, as well as the five
rooms and halls of the State Apartments in the west wing,
will be reconstructed as far as possible in the style of the
18th century. Four rooms used for museum purposes will
complete this suite of rooms reconstructed according to
specific historical styles.
If one turns right after leaving the Riesensaal, one will
come to the second floor of the Georgenbau. This will
house the permanent exhibition of the Münzkabinett, the
reconstructed Small Ballroom in the early Historicist style
and the exhibition of the Electors’ silver weaponry – mag­
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