New splendor and old patina: the complete renovation of Pfaueninsel Palace

Between 1794 and 1797, unconventional architecture was created on Peacock Island, particularly the pleasure palace at the western end of the island and the Meierei at the north-eastern end, which, despite the short distance to the residences of Potsdam and Berlin, were intended to emphasize the island's remoteness and the immersion in a place of longing free from courtly constraints and conventions.


The interior of Pfaueninsel Palace and its interiors have survived the centuries almost unscathed - perhaps thanks to its remote island location. Despite all the clear signs of ageing and patina, the interiors today are in their entirety authentic and unadulterated testimonies of their time, a rarity in the Prussian palace landscape!


Accordingly, the valuable surfaces of the interior rooms and interiors have been carefully and responsibly conserved, i.e. above all cleaned and strengthened, and not restored, i.e. supplemented, retouched or even renewed.

The façades are a different story:
Since its construction, the half-timbered castle had been repeatedly clad with new, different materials. At intervals of 20, 40 and 80 years, dilapidated wooden formwork had to be replaced. Every era tried to optimize the façade cladding, even using a cement shell at the end of the 19th century.

During the recently completed renovation, the façade cladding had to be completely replaced once again.


Dr. Dirk Dorsemagen, who was responsible for the overall refurbishment as head of the building construction department, explains which material was used this time and which optimizations promise a longer service life for the current refurbishment.


(IN GERMAN)