Berlin's Museum der Moderne faces backlash over energy inefficiency

The Museum der Moderne, a 20th-century art museum under construction in Berlin, has drawn sharp criticism from conservation experts and architecture critics for its unsustainable energy design. Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, the building at Potsdamer Platz near the Neue Nationalgalerie is projected to consume 450 kilowatt-hours per square meter—roughly four times that of the 19th-century Altes Museum. Conservation expert Stefan Simon labeled it a "Klimakiller" in Die Zeit. The German Federal Court of Auditors declared the project "too expensive and not ecological," calling for a redesign. The museum's concrete-heavy construction and open, transparent interior requiring sophisticated ventilation are key concerns. Originally budgeted at €179 million, costs have escalated to approximately €450 million due to deeper excavation on Berlin's marshy ground. German Culture Minister Claudia Roth has requested design revisions including rainwater collection and solar panels, but experts consider these insufficient. Tobias Timm of Die Zeit urged environmental protesters to focus on such developments. The Bundestag allocated an additional €10 million to address gaps, though critics demand a construction halt amid the energy crisis.