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The new building crowns the Zürcher Kunsthaus as the largest art museum in Switzerland. The number of visitors should also increase.
The expansion by architect David Chipperfield characterizes Heimplatz in Zurich. The geometric building made of light Jurassic limestone contrasts with the gray winter sky. Inside, light floods the central hall. Light oak, white marble floors, a spacious marble staircase and brass fixtures create a noble, almost splendid atmosphere.
The planning and construction of the expansion took twelve years. It cost 206 million francs. The solemn, but silent, crown-related handover of the keys is a milestone in the history of the Kunsthaus. Mayor Corine Mauch raves: “The building has a generosity that is not otherwise known in Zurich. It really is a new place. “And the building is magnificent, but not ostentatious:” Its form is also very simple. “In fact, strict geometry and exposed concrete compensate for the frivolities of the furniture.
It is a generosity that is not known in Zurich.
With the Chipperfield building, the Zürcher Kunsthaus becomes the largest art museum in Switzerland. The exhibition area is now 11,500 square meters, 5,000 more than before. This means that the Kunsthaus can show more of its hidden treasures. “That was the original intention and it is also very important for the Kunsthaus,” emphasizes Mauch.
The Kunsthaus displays the collections of Emil Bührle, Werner Merzbacher and Hubert Looser in the extension building. These include works by such greats as Cézanne, Monet, and Van Gogh. Temporary exhibitions are also planned in the new building.
The extension will be made accessible to the public in three stages. It will finally go into full operation next fall. The Kunsthaus also hopes that the new building will attract more visitors: “Our business plan foresees that more visitors will come from French-speaking Switzerland and other countries close to the border,” says spokesperson Björn Quellenberg.
The Kunsthaus expects an annual increase in visitor numbers of around 30 percent from 2022. Therefore, the extension should attract an additional 130,000 or more people to the museum each year. The question arises: How realistic is this forecast?
A comparison with the Kunstmuseum Basel shows that it will not be easy. The Kunstmuseum Basel opened an extension by architects Christ & Gantenbein in 2016.
Legend:
The Kunstmuseum Basel now has three buildings, here the 2016 extension.
Keystone
The Kunstmuseum Basel originally hoped to generate around 100,000 additional admissions thanks to the extension. The expectations were, therefore, a total of 300,000 visitors.
Today, Communications and Press Director Karen Gerig says: “The number of visitors has increased. But not as much as expected. In the first year after opening alone, expectations were exceeded with 323,000 entries. In the last two years, the number of visitors has fallen again, to 230,000 people. “This could be mainly due to the fact that the number of special exhibits has remained the same,” explains Gerig.
The people of Zurich remain optimistic. “The offer we will have in the future justifies our expectations,” says director Christoph Becker. The new area also means that the collection can be managed more flexibly than it is today. “The house will not be as static as it was ten or fifteen years ago,” promises Becker. The question remains for the potential audience:
