Berlin Palace Rebuilding Begins 63 Years After Explosion

Germany began reconstruction of Berlin’s royal palace 63 years after the original was blown up by East Germany’s communist authorities, as ministers and the mayor brushed aside criticism of the project.

The baroque palace, once home to Prussia’s rulers, is to be rebuilt at a cost of 590 million euros ($787 million), with the federal government providing the bulk of the funds. The Italian architect Franco Stella won the competition to build it in 2008. Construction was delayed because of the cost in 2010.