1978 – Staatsbibliothek, Berlin

In 1964, Hans Scharoun won the competition for the Prussian State Library with this design. However, he died before completion and the building was finished by his student Edgar Wisniewski. It is sited on the site of the original Potsdamer Strasse and separated from the other buildings of the Kulturforum by a dual carriageway. Like his other works in the Kulturforum, the main body of the building is clad with gold coloured panels. Like the Philarmonie and the Kammermusiksaal, the main block of the building is surrounded by service spaces, corridors and stairwells which try to break down the bulk of the building. Here it is not so successful as with the other buildings.