berlin old city hall administrative building berlin currently senate faces bound roads designed chief construction city built cost million marks supplement building features sculptures including representations civic virtues greek deities mounted tower sculpture bear symbol berlin located central originally called seat world war building center administration called avoid confusion known old city house world war allied bombing campaign fierce fighting caused severe damage roof completely destroyed statues rear entrance substantial water damage phase reconstruction statue goddess removed assumed remaining statues carvings exterior removed rain damage completely refurbished 1990s exterior restoration required replacement elements including figures virtues giant window columns original roof reconstructed plans second city hall 1860s population berlin growing rapidly influx people year creating large administrative burden construction began city half million inhabitants grew time completion 1880s city offices additional buildings near extended clear second administration building required executive committee berlin city council proposed site banks river roughly corresponding current location offices proposal rejected city council city hall proposals hold years discussing locations chief construction involved council agreed built parcels land site bought cleared based participation debate reputation received commission design new building kind competitive bidding restrictions commissioned design space approximately employees prosperous city decided building feature tower design accepted demolition existing buildings began cornerstone laid specifications created monumental building incorporate offices municipal administration place city hall addition include hall large scale public events city lacks exterior representative berlin today magnificent building distinguished according author monograph important berlin work imposing external feature building tower approximately metres tall rises square base central bay facing inspired designed french german consists double set cylinders columns structure dome metres copper sculpture goddess stands globe originally intended berlin taking upward path development tower adorned sculptures including representations civic virtues greek deities centre building barrel vaulted hall stories high capable people decorated style walls inscribed moral room originally floor red marble ceremonial bronze gates addition room contains kilograms bronze bear symbol berlin commissioned city giving hall placed bear symbolic setting signifying bases european culture height stands places viewer belly level creating respectful distance stands triangle signifying trinity association saying depictions deities building irregular corresponding group buildings occupied site presenting difficulties symmetry originally enclosed buildings design emphasizes appearance close distance executed grey articulated reference principles architecture based comprising floor half height columns order comprising half stories roof lack alignment stories intentional variation model facing metres metres metres metres long respectively main entrances centre projecting bays rear bear hall axis wings forming sides terminate projecting bays ends primary cross wings opening main axis rear bear hall create building main entrance rear entrance lined stone exterior create sense grand public rooms city outside placed large wall fountain marble opening construction lasted half years april october tower construction taking years different departments city administration moved different times police department moving early march building formally opened mayor october 1920s significant changes building world war november revolution caused damage administrative burden considerably increased incorporation outlying towns villages city berlin result departments units housed outside building commissioned city planning division develop concept new administrative building encompassing city blocks link plan included existing main city library city savings bank plan area including replacement old housing alley leading plans abandoned political economic situation berlin world war nazis came power revived urban renewal plan appropriate contribution program national renewal charged developing new canal require replacing bridge removing number buildings plan developed create administrative forum include new centralized mint today residence city president retain flanked large new wings plan superseded housing concept block demolished completed outbreak war mint government building completed world war building suffered damage allied bombing campaign later severely damaged battle berlin end war roof completely destroyed fire substantial water damage statues rear entrance destroyed assessments estimated building suffered damage post war shortly official surrender soviet military administration headed looked capable anti form new public administration appointed new member acting governing mayor damaged adjacent administration building new seat known new building known distinguish building developing schemes building early urgent need new roof alternatives emerged accurate reconstruction roof flat pitched roof timber short supply pitched roof requiring square metres timber chosen instead roof requiring square metres issues landmark preservation played featured little decision starting roof partially replaced pitched roof necessary repairs simple emergency immediate post war years manpower supplies financing available undertake repairs larger scale reconstruction took place phases focused building courtyard wing second phase completed early focused wing included construction additional offices fourth floor person dining hall kitchen number reasons significant building seat government remaining phases carried addition reconstruction architecture high priority housing funding restoration work included economic plan effect building city hall housed government departments planning housing office space fully occupied bear hall tower rooms remained unused exhibits plans left leading damp mould damage tower eventually years reconstruction fully operational departments able administration buildings remote locations early year announced transferred having established separate berlin senate established house significantly increased workforce planned interim solution problem prime minister moved offices building later year renovation work create appropriate accommodations included official rooms planned expansion fourth floor upgrading ventilation equipment electrical work completed red laid landings eventually paper placed offices building extensively altered inner courtyard covered bear hall converted chamber hall capacity reduced people windows arcades long sides closed wood wall suspended ceiling installed create modern room space bronze door marble removed bear statue removed installed newly opened zoo security zone created building public entrance building council ministers main entrance facing national emblem hammer compass installed place arms opened special occasions alterations demonstrated negative opinion architecture cost million marks statue goddess dome removed phase reconstruction replaced metres antenna broadcast came service turn replaced flying national flag statue stored inside dome 1960s mentioned records assumed melted remaining statues carvings exterior building remained place removed placed storage locations seriously damaged rain frost reception meeting rooms upgraded extensive use imported goods west time important government important events celebrations ceremonies took place palace republic historical high point use building came final phase freely elected government relocated provisions agreement german negotiated complete refurbishment 1990s emblem removed main entrance year leaving dark patch following berlin offices moved building january legal decision returned building wished use original purpose city administration required refurbishment neglected facilities example dated 1920s access needed provided handicapped renovation began direction architect objective returning building far possible original condition ignoring events recent past priority removal iron particle board relics period deemed worthy preservation placed prussian arsenal original murals painted enclosed period restored fountain accurately recreated bronze bear sculptures returned replacement stone columns exterior restoration building required restoration replacement elements tower including figures virtues giant window columns bomb damage merely addition original roof reconstructed west main facade facing technical facilities updated including ventilation equipment elevators lighting proved impossible use tower offices lacked second exit required safety regulations later addition office space roof cavity replacement kilograms statue created restoration expert based model der miniature september hoisted dome tower crane replacement statue financed entrepreneur art patron cost restoration statues tower delayed dispute contracted companies gone bankrupt renovation included restoration bear hall reopened june zoo requested received copy cost marks bronze bear transported building june replica constructed restoration building estimated cost million marks largely paid federal berlin state governments financing contributed british mobile phone company paid marks giant red advertising banner concealed tower year building location moved registry office borough located building exchanged quarters parliament borough met plans announced building divisions department housed plans considered city council
Altes Stadthaus, Berlin