© Tobias Droz/BerlinOnline
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The Alte Bibliothek, today a building of the Humboldt University law faculty, during the Festival of Lights.
The Alte Bibliothek (Old Library) is located on Bebelplatz in Berlin-Mitte, opposite the State Opera. Thanks to its shape, the historic building is also nicknamed the "commode".
The Alte Bibliothek in Mitte was built in 1748–66 as the third building of the Forum Fridericianum for the Royal Library of Prussia. The building is located on the west side of Bebelplatz, the former Forum Fridericianum. Due to its curved shape, the Old Library is also known as the "commode".
The original palace was a three-winged complex grouped around the cour d'honneur facing the lime trees. Along the avenue of lime trees were seven-axis front buildings. In 1913-20, Ludwig Hoffmann widened the originally narrow side wings to the width of these front buildings and extended them far to the north, creating an elongated second courtyard.
The complex is accentuated by the central risalit and the risalits of the front buildings, which are decorated with statues. The Corinthian column arrangement of the central risalit makes reference to the opera house. The flat roof is almost concealed by a surrounding parapet. The massive impression is reinforced by the ashlar structure of the three storeys, the middle of which is emphasized by the high arched windows. The cornered gate pillars with groups of children are noteworthy.
The west side of the forum is occupied by the "commode", so-called because of its curved forms, which housed the royal library. In contrast to the four-storey façade, the interior only had two storeys. After the destruction of the war, the library was rebuilt true to the original on the outside until 1969, with a modern interior. The building has been used by the Humboldt University since 1914 and is now home to the Faculty of Law.
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The TV Tower, the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the Reichstag building - no other Berlin district has more sights than Mitte. more