JUNG LS 990 lights up berlin's james simon galerie by david chipperfield

completed in 2019, the james simon galerie opened as the first new building on berlin’s museum island – a cultural center in the german captial city – in almost a century. it was designed by david chipperfield architects to offer both central guiding and service functions as part of a larger redevelopment of the area, which eventually aims to connect all its museums. composed of three spatial, voluminous elements, the historically located buildings are finished with a facade of marble aggregate in concrete. from floor to ceiling, the interiors are lit up with the JUNG classic design switch LS 990 in black.

all images by henrik schipper

with a new, airy entrance, visitors to the museum climb a wide flight of stairs that lead over the ‘archaeological’ promenade, which, in the future, will connect four of the five museums on the island. its new courtyard links the galerie to the new museum and pergamon-museum opposite. the central foyer encloses the cafe and leads to the grand terrace that runs along the whole length of the building’s side. the restaurant lays host to smooth, exposed concrete that contrasts with surfaces of dark walnut plywood and marble as well as bronze handrails and a shell-limestone floor.

the exposed concrete walls continue downstairs on the mezzanine floor, which hosts the museum shop, cloakroom, toilet facilities and lockers. below this, the basement level features a large, 300-seater auditorium and also the temporary exhibition spaces. the JUNG LS 990 lights up all these interiors of the james simon galerie.

JUNG has provided premium, cutting-edge building technology for over a century, and over 50 years specifically with the JUNG LS 990 product. their portfolio includes switches, wall sockets, dimmers, observers and systems for regulating functions in private homes and public building projects. for the james simon galerie, a design classic was chosen. the JUNG LS 990 is a flat switch with a clear, pure shape. it features a narrow square frame to ensure it fits harmoniously with surroundings. a flexible variety of materials and colors enhance its suitability, for example its absolute black finish contrasts dramatically with the concrete walls within the galerie.

project info:

project start: 1999/2007
completion: 2018
opening: 2019
gross floor area: 10,900 sqm
client: stiftung preußischer kulturbesitz represented by the bundesamt für bauwesen und raumordnung
user: staatliche museen zu berlin

architect: david chipperfield architects berlin
partners: david chipperfield, martin reichert, alexander schwarz (design lead)
project architect: urs vogt

in collaboration with —
builder: prussian cultural heritage foundation, represented by the german federal office for building and regional planning
executive architect: wenzel + wenzel freie architekten, berlin
project management: christoph-phillip krinn
switch design: JUNG LS 990 in black