"The unfinished museum
So work began in 1912 under the direction of his childhood friend Ludwig Hoffmann, but it dragged on until 1930 and ultimately remained unfinished. In addition to the existing three-wing system, the plans included a colonnade between the side wings on the Kupfergraben, a one-storey extension of the New Museum along the water (also currently in the planning for the restoration of the New Museum), an entrance hall (today's glass case dates from 1982) and one Connecting wing to the Bode Museum, which is cut off from the rest of the island by the S-Bahn line. In addition, the area should be rearranged from the main front in terms of urban planning. Colossal, i.e. Doric pilasters spanning both floors structure the side wings, on the front sides half columns support the strikingly steep gables. Hoffmann transformed Messel's heavy "state baroque" into classicist forms that lead to the architectural language of the new and old museums. The complex appears enormously massive due to the windowless, erratic high-rise building, but also because of the flat side wings. "Source & further information at: berlin.de/sehenswuerdigkeits/3561144-3558930-bode-museum.html