An illustration of opportunities to associate your name with specific architectural elements under construction at the Berliner Schloss. (Berliner ExtraBlatt)

Audun Engh of INTBAU kindly noted, after reading my last post, that the figures next to architectural elements and statuary in drawings of a Berliner Schloss façade near the end of the Extrablatt PDF represented not the cost of those elements but the price for having one’s name associated with them, as a way to raise private funds to ornament the outside walls.

The Germans have raised private fundraising to an art form worthy of Schinkel. Reading Audun’s note, I drifted off into cloud-cookoo land, imagining that the Germans might be willing to sculpt a bust gracing a broken pediment in your own image (or that of your beloved wife) if you offered the right sum. Audun cautioned me otherwise.

David, I believe that by “an individual façade element tailored specifically to you” they just refer to having your name linked to a specific façade element, in a list of sponsors. Not  that you in any way can decide the design.

Well, maybe they should try that idea. (Or maybe not!) Meanwhile, Audun sent a host of links to naming opportunities (in English) at the Berlin project. Here is his email. The key advice, in my opinion, is right at the end.

http://berliner-schloss.de/en/news/berlin-palace-is-being-rebuilt-in-its-former-glory/

“You can also view the façade catalogue in this way – and secure with your donation an individual façade element tailored specifically to you.”

Click  “Donations” on the  menu: http://berliner-schloss.de/en

Here is one of the “price ” lists :

Facade bricks: Choose an amount in Euro, click “verify” (no obligations!)  and the program will identify the specific bricks you are paying for.

http://berliner-schloss.de/en/donations/donate-stone-selection/

Or you can pay for a specific decorative element. Parts of a portel (choose the one you want to contribute to):

http://berliner-schloss.de/en/donations/donation-portal-selection/

Or you can pay for an entire sculpture or ornament:

http://berliner-schloss.de/en/donate-decorative-element-selection/

For many people, it will of course be a lot more rewarding to donate money if you can, in 2019, visit the palace and  show your friends and family what parts of the facade you helped recontruct!

This model could be used for Penn Station too!

Top half of image for fundraising via architectural association. (Extraplatt)

Bottom half of image for fundraising via association. (Extraplatt)