Jewish Museum Berlin (Libeskind Building)

Facade facts

Facade summary

A continuous, zig-zagging skin of titanium-zinc sheets punctuated by sharp,expressive, diagonal window slashes that slice across the building's geometry.

Documented intention

Daniel Libeskind's facade concept,named 'Between the Lines', mapped the addresses of prominent Jewish and non-Jewish historical figures in Berlin (such as Walter Benjamin and Paul Celan). By plotting these points and drawing lines between them, Libeskind generated a complex graphic matrix that was projected onto the building's exterior envelope as the physical layout of the window slits.

Street relationship

The facade stands in dramatic juxtaposition to the neighboring baroque Kollegienhaus. It offers no traditional street-level windows,entrances,or storefronts, appearing as an impenetrable zinc monument when viewed from Lindenstraße, with access only possible via an underground passage from the old building.

Climate relationship

The low ratio of window openings to solid walls helps control solar heat gain, which is highly beneficial for museum climate control, protecting light-sensitive historical artifacts inside.

Window pattern

Completely irregular, based on a projected cartographic matrix of historical addresses.

Glazing

Double-glazed insulated units

Depth

Flat metallic surface with recessed structural cuts

Rhythm

Non-repeating,chaotic,deconstructivist rhythm

Titanium-zinc (Rheinzink)

Titanium-zinc (Rheinzink) — Entire external cladding envelope — Pre-patinated matte finish (designed to self-weather over time)

Reinforced concrete

Reinforced concrete — Substructure and structural core — Smooth formwork finish on the interior,structural backing on the exterior

Glass

Glass — Slashed window openings — Reflective /clear

Aluminum / Steel

Aluminum/Steel — Window frames — Powder-coated

Rainscreen Cladding System

Double-locked standing seam titanium-zinc rainscreen panels mounted onto a supportive sub-construction with a ventilated air cavity.

Load-Bearing Cast-in-Place Concrete Wall System

The heavy concrete walls act as both structural support and physical thermal mass, with external insulation applied prior to the rainscreen system.

Bespoke Structural Slit Glazing

Custom irregular frames embedded directly within the structural concrete cuts, thermal-broken profiles detailed to interface flush with the exterior zinc facade skin.

Gallery

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Sources

• Jewish Museum Berlin · Studio Libeskind
• Daniel Libeskind: Radix - Matrix: Architecture and Writings · Daniel Libeskind
• Rheinzink Architecture Reference: Jewish Museum Berlin · Rheinzink