Kunstmuseum OltenCompetition

Following a reorganization of the museums in Olten, the art museum is to be relocated to the former Munzinger schoolhouse in a prestigious location and complemented by an extension. In spite of the various adaptations of use that have taken place over the years, the building still appears significant and representative. In the historical development of the northern block on Kirchgasse, the commercial building in the middle also assumes an important role. Thanks to the intended multifunctionality, a synergetic complement to the art museum can be created. With the creation of a gastronomic offer, the successful history of the Restaurant Kunstmuseum will be continued.

The structure of historic buildings in the western district is supplemented on the north side in order to understand the building structure with the museum as a coherent city block and to be able to address it on two sides by means of the supplementary buildings. Following these principles, the relevant urban elements are grouped around Munzingerplatz and are directly related to each other. Within this open structure, the museum block has the effect of a mature fitting piece that, together with the Haus der Museen and the Church of St. Martin, embraces the central plaza. The gradually growing form finds its conclusion with the precise keystone of the museum extension.

Regarding its typology and construction, the protected main building will largely retain its character and be adapted for its purpose as an art museum. The extension is understood as a monolithic volume that directly connects to the existing building and enters into a dialogue with the historic substance. The two buildings can be understood as unequal twins - striving to form a balanced whole. The gentle renovation of the historic building is crucial in order to strengthen the duality of the two buildings. The square-shaped volume is made of rammed earth and is fitted with single, simple openings. In order to strengthen the connection with the old building, a tectonic division is introduced, which on the one hand emphasizes the center and symmetry, and on the other hand extends the cornice height of the concrete building horizontally, which is only formed on the sides of the church alley. The emphatically earthy materiality creates a direct reference to the topographical elevation of the "Wangner Vorstadt", which frames and vertically structures the space on the opposite side.