Revived:

Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Neue Nationalgalerie is an icon of Western modernism. After a thorough multi-year renovation by David Chipperfield Architects, the building was recently festively handed over to the State Museums of Berlin. FSB is represented in the project with adaptations of original original door handles, with special designs developed by the architects involved and the contemporary models FSB 1015 and FSB 1045, partly specially designed creations.

Architectural firm David Chipperfield Architects - which worked on the meticulous heritage renovation of the Neue Nationalgalerie - also dealt intensively with the subject of door fittings. Even for Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - the architect of the house - this detail was too important not to give it the attention it deserved. The famous architect's own designs were used in many projects that clearly lent buildings the detailed hand of the master. For the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, he developed a new product and turned to natural silver-aluminum for the material. While on one set of doors the originals from the 1960s continued to be used and were augmented in part by individual, contemporary toilet roses from FSB, the architects opted for FSB 1015 and FSB 1045 models in aluminum for other doors in the building.

Modern models with special details

In the 1950sFSB designer Johannes Potente reinterpreted the FSB 1015 design, whose basic form dates back to the 1930s and convinces as a distinct door handle shape. At the start of the 2000s the design FSB 1045 was created for emergency exit doors in accordance with DIN EN 179. For the Neue Nationalgalerie, FSB worked with the renowned architectural firm David Chipperfield Architects to develop a range of special model solutions that meet the building's requirements: for instance, design 1045 is used as a vertically upright upright door handle with green arrow shapes.

Originals upgraded with premium quality

On many doors, the original door handles from the 1960s have been refitted with clearly visible but visually appealing signs of use. If one of the originals does need to be replaced, the premium hardware manufacturer from Brakel has worked with the architects responsible to develop a custom-made replacement which also meets the requirements of historic preservation. In this solution, maximum orientation was taken to the historical original and necessary modifications were made in as few places as possible. Thanks to a special production method, FSB is the only manufacturer able to reproduce historic door handles as faithfully as possible. With the "FSB Handmade"The company thus offers the opportunity to revert to quality materials and processing "made in Germany," to make use of FSB's technical know-how and at the same time to realize individual design ideas or breathe new life into popular originals - from hand-molded-with-manufacture character to high-end series production.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe reinterpreted

In the context of the grand opening of the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, the close relationship between FSB and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe once again becomes clear. Throughout his life, the designer devoted his time extensively to door handles and their details. He saw them as important elements in the design of every project. Since 2019, the FSB brand has been paying special tribute to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, known as one of the most important designers and architects of modernism, with a reinterpretation. Hartmut Weise developed a new product from two historic door handle models by Mies van der Rohe: FSB 1267. The new design picks up on the smooth transition from the round handle neck to the flat handle, retaining the index finger dimple only as an idea and the handle itself is now straighter. In addition to door handles for profile, glass and timber doors and emergency exit barriers to DIN EN 179, the new product family includes a window handle and roseless handles with reduced rosette for doors and windows. FSB 1267 is available in aluminum, brass and bronze. More information on Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's creations, the refurbishment of the Neue Nationalgalerie by David Chipperfield Architects and the link to FSB can be found here: www.fsb.de/fsb1267