Considered one of the major icons of the classic modernism style in architecture, the Neue Nationalgalerie –  was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and first opened in 1968.

Situated close to Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin, the building is part of a cultural ensemble including the state library, philharmonic and different museums. 

The enormous square roof of the building rests on eight steel columns and the glass facade is set back from the roof, creating a completely column-free open universal space underneath, flooded by light and opening to the surrounding city. 

Sitting on a raised podium, two narrow staircases lead the visitor underneath. Here, the spaces housing the permanent collection of the museum are of a smaller scale and have a visual connection to the submerged sculpture garden, also granting natural light.

The building was closed in 2015 and carefully restored to its original state by David Chipperfield Architects over a period of seven years. It has a fantastic open quality and somewhat awe-inspiring feeling.