Basel: Extension of the Kunstmuseum opened
After three and a half years of construction, the new building of the Kunstmuseum Basel was officially opened on April 15 together with the partially renovated main building. The plans for the extension were drawn up by Basel architects Christ & Gantenbein.
The striking new building will give the Kunstmuseum a third home alongside the main building and the Contemporary Art Museum on St. Alban-Rheinweg. Together, all three buildings have around 10,000 square meters of exhibition space.
In the future, the new building will primarily be used to show large special exhibitions. But there is now also more presentation space available for the art museum's constantly growing collection.
European art from the 15th century to the late Picasso and Gerhard Richter will be on display in the main building, which reopens after about 13 months of partial renovation with new spaces for the bookstore and art education studios, as well as a structural connection to the underground link to the new building.
The investment for the new building amounted to CHF 100 million. Half of this is being financed by patron Maja Oeri; she has contributed a further CHF 20 million for land acquisition. (ah)
