Neue Wache, Memorial building on Unter den Linden boulevard, Berlin, Germany
The Neue Wache is a Neoclassical building on Unter den Linden in Berlin's Mitte district, featuring Doric columns and a balanced symmetrical facade. Inside, a vast nearly empty hall surrounds a single central sculpture beneath an opening to the sky.
Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed the building in 1818 as a guardhouse for the royal palace during the Prussian era. After World War II it was repurposed as a memorial, first by East Germany and later as a central German war memorial.
The sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz at the center shows a mother holding her dead child and conveys the depth of grief directly. Visitors feel when entering how this simple yet powerful space invites reflection on loss and suffering.
Entry to the building is free and open daily, with wheelchair accessibility at the main entrance. Keep in mind that the interior is cool and rain can fall through the ceiling opening onto the floor.
The ceiling above the central sculpture has a large circular opening through which rain and snow fall directly onto the artwork. This unusual feature makes the sculpture part of the changing seasons and weather conditions.
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