Kunsthaus Zürich Competition

Kunsthaus Zürich – the most significant art museum in Zurich – is internationally renowned. In an ever more dynamic environment, the enhancement of this position plays a strategically important role. An extension of the building complex designed by Karl Moser in 1910 is therefore required. Between the old Canton School and the Heimplatz, the new building is to be located directly opposite to the existing Kunsthaus as an open structure in harmony with the topography. 

A clearly-cut, large-scale square structure extends and reinforces the established heterogeneous museum area. It lines the Heimplatz, which thereby permits a dialogue between Kunsthaus, new building and theatre. The new construction follows the tradition of solitary buildings along the Rämistrasse. Connected to the dense inner city structures, its resting presence indicates the transition to the slope. The city floods the open house in a horizontal direction, while the ascending topography leads visitors to the art. In a vertical context, the solid structure opens up in the form of numerous hanging ceramic rods. Light enters the porous structure of this sculptural relief facade, tracing the topographical development with its lower contours.

The building thrives from this interplay between clear geometry and subtle form. The receding staggered ground floor creates an open umbrella effect. The structure containing the exhibition rooms rests on individual cores. Natural daylight is led into the different levels of the structure through voluminous skylight elements. The exhibition spaces are intended as an open hall for art from 1960 onwards, walls are merely used for structuring and visitor circulation. Rooms with bi-directional non-aligned enfilades are utilised for the older art.