ZURICH.- After some twelve years of project planning and construction, the Kunsthaus extension has been completed. At a formal ceremony on 11 December 2020, the commissioning body – the Einfache Gesellschaft Kunsthaus-Erweiterung (EGKE), made up of the City of Zurich, the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft (ZKG) and the Stiftung Zürcher Kunsthaus (SZK) – handed the keys to the building to its new owner, the SZK. The extension will be operated and used by the ZKG, in its capacity as patron association of the Kunsthaus.

The idea for an extension developed by the Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft in 2001 took shape thanks to an architecture competition held in 2008, in which the winning design was submitted by David Chipperfield Architects. Voters in Zurich approved construction of the extension in 2012. After a number of delays caused by appeals against the project, construction began in August 2015.

Enhancing Heimplatz as a cultural hub
The extension enhances the urban landscape around Heimplatz in a number of ways. The Chipperfield building is compact and blends harmoniously into its architectural surroundings. The design of the façade is a subtle reference to the existing Kunsthaus and the nearby buildings, and brings a metropolitan flair to Heimplatz. The art garden to the north of the extension opens up a new, freely accessible area for the public. Together with the Schauspielhaus, the new ensemble enhances the status of Heimplatz as a cultural hub and also acts as a gateway to the university district. The building by David Chipperfield Architects is meticulously designed down to the last architectural detail. At its core is the central lobby, a place for encounters of all kinds. The materials used for the interior notably include (recycled) exposed concrete, light-coloured oak wood and white marble for the floors, as well as brass for elements of the wall coverings, doors, handrails, lifts and signage. The façade, elegantly contoured with pilasters, is fashioned from solid Jura limestone.

A trailblazing 2,000-Watt museum
The extension is a pioneering step towards the 2000-Watt Society. The total energy required for construction (grey energy) and operation (heating, cooling, electricity) is far lower than that of recent museum buildings, and represents a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A substantial proportion of the CO2 savings are due to the building’s compact form, geothermal probe and photovoltaic installations, and LED lighting.




A museum for art and the public
Together with the existing Kunsthaus, which is linked to the Chipperfield building by a passage more than 70 metres in length running beneath Heimplatz, the new ensemble is the largest art museum in Switzerland. The area available for presenting art increases by 5,000 m2 to a total of 11,500 m2. The enlarged Kunsthaus offers more the double the amount of public space. The central lobby, which is open to all, and the multi-purpose workshops provide space for interaction between art and the public and will enhance the scope for sharing and participation. The shop and bar, large event hall and art garden, all of which will be accessible outside museum hours, open the new Kunsthaus up to the city at large.

Art by Pipilotti Rist outside the museum
An integral part of this large-scale project is the art and architecture work by Pipilotti Rist, who has created ‘Tactile Lights’, a light and video installation that can be experienced all over Heimplatz. At its centre is an artistically designed mast that projects round, coloured patches of light onto the surrounding façades and ground surfaces in the evenings during the darker months of the year, while videos breathe new life into the statues on the north façade of the Moser building. The art installation is designed in accordance with the façade illumination set out in the ‘Plan Lumière’ lighting strategy. As they gradually advance, the round patches of colour forge a bond between the cultural institutions on Heimplatz. The installation will be switched on at 4 p.m. on Friday 11 December.

Construction costs within cost ceiling
The project was completed within the maximum budget of CHF 206 million. Funding for the Kunsthaus extension came from the ZKG and the City of Zurich, with each contributing CHF 88 million. The canton added CHF 30 million from the lottery fund and also granted the SZK the right to build on the plot of land.

Preview in April/May, opening in October 2021
The handover of the keys to the extension was to be followed by an open weekend, but this has had to be postponed owing to the pandemic. In April and May 2021 the Kunsthaus will be organizing a preview, with performances, guided tours and the installation of some initial works that are not climate-sensitive. The Chipperfield building will then close over the summer while the valuable works of art move in. The grand opening will take place on 9 and 10 October 2021, with the Kunsthaus Collection being presented for the first time on both sides of Heimplatz along with the prestigious private Bührle, Merzbacher and Looser collections. The enlarged museum will then be fully operational. Between 380,000 and 400,000 visitors per year are expected to pass through its doors.

The extension cements the national and international status of the Kunsthaus Zürich, which meets all the requirements for a museum in the 21st century. The expanded range of art on display and the enhanced art education programme will enrich cultural life in the city of Zurich and appeal to visitors from far beyond Switzerland.

PUBLICATION MARKING THE COMPLETION
To coincide with the completion of the project, the commissioning body is bringing out the second of three commemorative publications. The first, entitled ‘The Architectural History of the Kunsthaus Zürich 1910–2020’, appeared in spring 2020; the second looks at how the new complex meets the challenges of a museum for the 21st century. ‘The New Kunsthaus Zürich. Museum for Art and Public’ is published by Scheidegger & Spiess and is available from bookstores and the museum shop, price CHF 15.