It is going on with big steps: On Wednesday, 07 March, the big topping-out ceremony for the extension of the Jewish Museum was celebrated. Not only the building owner, architect, planners and craftsmen had reason to celebrate, but also the key project sponsors and supporters. After the groundbreaking ceremony in December 2015 and the laying of the foundation stone in June 2016, this is another decisive milestone for the large-scale project. Accordingly, the euphoria among those involved was great. The interest of the press and citizens is also growing steadily. After all, what is being built here is not simply a modernized museum building, but a new kind of center for Jewish culture in the past and present, which will be able to realize a program of Europe-wide significance in its contemporary spaces for exhibitions and events, library and archive, as well as for educational work with children, schoolchildren and young people.
Mayor Peter Feldmann underlined the significance of the new building in his address during the ceremony: "With the renovation and expansion, the Jewish Museum of the City of Frankfurt is expanding its importance as one of the leading Jewish museums in Europe. The museum will preserve the memory of Frankfurt's Jewish past, make it fruitful for the present, and thus set an example for the future. Our Jewish Museum will remain a lively and much-visited place."
Hesse's Finance Minister Thomas Schäfer followed up: "Frankfurt's history is inextricably linked with Jewish history. The Jewish Museum teaches this history in a fascinating way. Why is this so important? Because remembering is more than just keeping the past alive. It is a journey to the roots, a question of identity. That's why we can be particularly proud that the museum, which opened in 1988, is the oldest independent Jewish museum in Germany. Now, shortly before its 30th birthday, the museum is getting a makeover. A major project for a large museum of international standing is currently being realized here. The State of Hesse is also helping and its contribution guarantees an investment volume of 6 million euros. On behalf of the state government, I would like to thank those responsible, friends and supporters of the museum for their tireless efforts and wish continued success for the work ahead."
For architect Volker Staab and his team, the new building was also a great challenge: "Organizing a new address at the back of the existing museum building, developing a house that combines security with openness and provides the best conditions for a lively museum operation - that was the not entirely easy architectural task."
Mirjam Wenzel, Director of the Jewish Museum, concluded the topping-out ceremony by saying, "The renewal of the Jewish Museum is a great gift, the future shape of which my colleagues and I have worked intensively on over the past two years. I would like to thank the City of Frankfurt, the State of Hesse, and the many sponsors and supporters for their great confidence in the future of our museum, which is now tangibly closer."
The centerpiece in the renovated Rothschild Palais will be the new permanent exhibition, which will then be presented on approximately 1400 square meters. This will more than double the previous size of 600 square metres. The new building will add 3500 square metres to the 2800 square metres of floor space of the Rothschild Palais. The Frankfurt City Council has approved a total of 50 million euros for this expansion and has commissioned museumsbausteine GmbH to realize the renovation of the Jewish Museum within this framework. The sum includes the meanwhile award-winning redesign of the Museum Judengasse. The extension is scheduled for completion in spring 2019, with an opening in summer 2019.
<link http: www.juedischesmuseum.de startseite.html _blank>You can also find more info HERE
