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A modern work of art will be attached to the facade of the Federal Palace. Cost point: half a million francs.
15 artists have until the end of September 2021 to develop their art ideas in the Bundeshaus. Specifically, it is the north facade of the Federal Palace; the prominent façade, which can be clearly seen from the Bundesplatz. Under the roof is a large triangle made of sandstone, 23 meters wide and 4 meters high. It is currently empty, but that should change now.
Legend:
The triangle on the facade is currently empty. It should be adorned.
Keystone
When it was built about 100 years ago, it was planned to decorate the triangle. The execution plan, which was presented to the Federal Council in 1894, provided for a representation of the 22 cantons of the time for the triangle.
Legend:
Execution plan signed by the Federal Council in 1894. The decorations in the triangle on the main facade are clearly visible.
Archive of the Federal Office of Building and Logistics
However, when the building was inaugurated in 1902, the so-called tympanum was not yet decorated. “You don’t know why,” says Hans Rudolf Reust. He is president of the Art Commission of the Parliament Building.
Legend:
Embellishments are also provided for this 1906 Augusto Guidini design.
Federal Office of Culture
The so-called administrative parliament delegation is responsible for the art in and around the parliament building. He decided to organize a contest and released CHF 100,000 for it. Another 400,000 francs is available to plan and carry out the art project.
The idea is received differently by the people of Bern. “That is an unnecessary luxury,” says a passerby, noting that hardly anyone looks closely at the facade. A young man finds the idea interesting: “It would be good if the works of art changed annually and there was variety.” A woman wants something pink, decorated with gold. A man notices that the Bernese flag is missing from the Federal Palace.
Pink decorations or the flag of Bern: what is possible? In theory everything, says the chairman of the art commission of the parliament building, Hans Rudolf Reust. But: “Artists approach the matter with respect,” which is why particularly unusual ideas should struggle.
The contemporary artwork should be ready on September 12, 2023, for the 175th anniversary of the Swiss Federal Constitution.
