Deutsch-Deutsches Museum Mödlareuth - Memorial to the division of Germany

Mödlareuth, a village of 50 people on the Bavarian-Thuringian border, was a symbol of the division of Germany for decades. Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush once called it "Little Berlin." Like the capital, Mödlareuth was divided by a wall for four decades. Although only a few meters separated East and West, the border was insurmountable.  

The Deutsch-Deutsches Museum Mödlareuth tells this story and is one of a kind. The museum combines the village and the museum in a special way. By preserving the 90-meter-long wall in its original form in the outdoor area, the museum authentically recreates life on the former inner-German border.  

Today, the site attracts around 80,000 visitors from all over the world each year who want to learn about the inner-German border and its impact on daily life. Mödlareuth is a microcosm of German division. In the early days of the museum, the number of visitors was estimated at around 20,000 per year.  

The challenge

The need to increase visitor numbers, the lack of space for permanent and special exhibitions, the absence of a contemporary permanent exhibition and the requirement for suitable educational rooms and visitor infrastructure made it essential to redesign the outdoor area and carry out a comprehensive structural expansion. The goal: to redesign the outdoor area with a new outdoor exhibition, construct a new museum building that blends harmoniously into the landscape while respecting the location and its inhabitants, and create a new permanent exhibition that brings history to life with interactive media and over 500 exhibits.

A strong team effort: services that work together perfectly

Drees & Sommer took on the entire project management – from selecting the planning participants and handling the subsidies to tendering and awarding contracts. We ensured transparent processes, coordinated all interests, and managed potential claims proactively to ensure a smooth construction process. We used an operating cost forecast to assess the economic viability of the museum's operations. 

ADDED VALUE 

• Holistic project management: one contact person for all phases, from selecting planners to issuing tenders.
• High cost and schedule adherence: budget targets are met and the process runs smoothly thanks to anti-claim management.
• Transparency and coordination: all parties involved are kept informed at all times and conflicts are defused at an early stage.
• Sustainable perspective: an operating cost forecast ensures an assessment of the economic viability of museum operations. 

SERVICES

• Project management across all phases
• Support and guidance throughout the planner selection process
• Implementation of process steps in the funding procedure and verification
• Awarding authority in accordance with legal requirements
• Anti-claim management to avoid conflicts
• Operating cost forecasting for the new museum building