Nothing communicates the contrast between old
and new more beautifully than the Neues Museum in Berlin, Germany. Because
while this building exhibits the contrast between both elements, it
simultaneously seams the two together. The structure, built in 1841-1859, was
designed by Friedrich August Stuler. However, it suffered a great deal of
damage in the bombing of Berlin during World War II, which left the building unfit
for use. Finally in 1997, David Chipperfield won the design competition for the
museum’s restoration, and in 2009, the building once again open its doors to
the public.
The concept behind the renovation was to
maintain the existing structure and fill in the gaps with architecture that
would respect the building’s history and original intent. Arch Daily says, “The
original structure should be emphasized in its special context and original
materiality—the new reflects the lost without imitating it.” Chipperfield
created new space without overshadowing the existing and without duplicating
what was destroyed. He emphasized the old ruins by contrasting them to his
contemporary elements.
In this model, I aim to show the conflicting
entities of old and new. The white paper represents the old structure, aged and
in disrepair, enveloped in the sleek black paper, representative of the new
architectural construction. Even though the black covers the white, both have
their place. The black exterior molds to the structure of the white, creating a
new skin but maintaining the previous form. The white is still present and evident
in the interior, preserving the building’s history and former glory. 
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