Restoration of Berlin's iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Villum Foundation has granted 2.8 million euros for the restoration of Berlin's iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. With this donation the 27,000 characteristic blue glass panels on the church's facade will now be restored, to the benefit and joy of the more than 1.3 million people visiting the church each year.

Most people who have visited Berlin will recognize the striking Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The church, among Berlin's most important landmarks, stands as a symbol of peace on the western side of Breitscheidplatz.

The original church, built in 1891-1995, was partially destroyed during bombings in 1943. After the war, the church was preserved as a war memorial. In 1957, architect Egon Eiermann won the competition on a new church, and the old ruin was joined by a four-part building ensemble – also known as “the lipstick and powder box”. 

Unique glass architecture with symbolic significance

The striking facade of the new Bell Tower and Nave is characterized by 27,000 inserted thick coloured glass panels, mostly blue, representing peace and freedom, by the French glass artist Gabriel Loire. The coloured glass panels are made of strong glass, once broken and then assembled into mosaic-like, unique square pieces and inserted into the surrounding concrete facade. 

The glass mosaics create an impressive changing play of colors, both on the facade and in the sanctuary itself, following the course and strength of daylight. At night, the glass facades cast a colored glow over the surrounding Breitscheidplatz through night-time electric lighting of the interior. The glass mosaics are predominantly in shades of blue - a symbol of peace and freedom.

"The Villum Foundation supports, among other things, cultural projects that bring daylight and fresh air into people's everyday lives. The restoration of the unique glass mosaics will provide present and future generations with the opportunity to experience a very unique artistic use of glass and daylight, and we are pleased to contribute to the preservation of a historically and culturally significant monument, for the benefit and enjoyment of Berlin and its many visitors," says Jens Kann-Rasmussen, chairman of the Villum Foundation's board.

Extensive restoration work

The restoration work will take place in two phases, starting this year with the glass panels in the new Bell Tower, followed by the restoration of the glass panels of the facade of the new Church Nave.

The extensive restoration work is carried out by the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, whose purpose is to preserve and protect German cultural heritage.