FAQ

The Atelier 5 building is urgently in need of a comprehensive renovation. Everything from the building services to the HVAC system, illuminated ceiling and seismic retrofitting up to and including cultural heritage protection no longer comply with modern-day standards and, in some cases, can only continue to be used with special permits. Even after a renovation, the Atelier 5 building would no longer meet up to current expectations of a museum. The new building will enable the Kunstmuseum to create visitor-friendly exhibition and depot rooms that satisfy modern-day standards, open the museum up toward the city and the hillside on the Aare while also offering new art experiences. A new building is the only way for the Kunstmuseum to fulfil its mandate of protecting, caring for and educating the public about the first-rate cultural assets entrusted to it and to evolve in a forward-looking way as the canton’s cultural beacon.

Museums compete against one another for attractive loans and visitors’ attention. Zurich, Basel and Lausanne have made enormous investments in attractive new buildings. Unless it improves its infrastructure, Bern will no longer be able to compete against these cities, some of which target the same audience. Even among visitors from abroad, the Kunstmuseum Bern is likely to gradually lose appeal unless it is modernised. Today’s visitors rightly expect the institution to be focused on people: from building access to food services, education and a high-quality atmosphere – the Kunstmuseum wants to cater to the needs of its visitors. The new building will enable the Kunstmuseum Bern to meet international standards not only in terms of service quality and visitor friendliness, but also with respect to climate, safety and deliveries. 

Bern aspires to be counted among Switzerland’s most important centres of art, with this goal specified in the strategy adopted at the time the umbrella foundation was created in 2015. The collections of the Kunstmuseum Bern and Zentrum Paul Klee as well as the exhibition programmes of the past years and their public and media resonance have demonstrated that this is possible. What the Kunstmuseum lacks is a modern, sustainable infrastructure. More suitable exhibition rooms and a more modern infrastructure will enable the Museum to play more effectively to its strengths.

Gentle transitions from the street to the building will make the renovated museum easily accessible. Going forward, the entrance and foyer will welcome visitors with an entirely different gesture. The new, spacious and brightly lit exhibition rooms will enhance their enjoyment of the art. Food services will now also be accessible outside exhibition hours. Non-commercial recreational areas and a modern events hall will transform the Kunstmuseum into an inclusive, public place where people can congregate and communicate. Both analogue and digital offerings will be systematically geared toward visitors’ needs – the synergy created between contemporary architecture and a sustainable operating concept will give rise to a new, welcoming atmosphere.

All artistic media can coexist without any restrictions in the new rooms: Works on paper can be displayed next to sculptures, paintings or videos. The Museum also wants to tread new paths in the area of education: the new formats will intertwine analogue and digital art education and open up new ways for people to come in contact with art.

The Museum plans to address groups that are not currently accustomed to using the museum in a more targeted manner and get them involved in the programmes. The Kunstmuseum embraces a broad understanding of diversity that comprises different generations, places of origin, social classes, genders, etc. Interactive formats and opportunities to participate are to play a stronger, more important role in the Museum’s educational work. 

Visiting a museum is a holistic experience. With that in mind, the plans include an attractive bistro offering that is available even outside the Museum’s hours of operation and for large-scale events. No actual restaurant is planned, however, since that is not one of a museum’s core tasks. This issue was explored in clarifications undertaken in the run-up to the competition; they confirmed the fact that the food service offerings in the nearby city centre are already extremely good and comprehensive.

The Museum’s planned renovation relies on energy-efficient, climate-friendly solutions – not only during renovation, reconstruction and construction of the new building but also during operation once the project has been completed. A list of criteria, including all relevant sustainability-related aspects, will be incorporated into the competition programme and serve as a guideline for the jury. The competition programme is based on the SIA standard “Sustainable Architecture - Building Construction” and the detailed structure of the “Swiss Sustainable Building Standard” that builds on the SIA standard. The Museum strives to embrace sustainability in every dimension, including environmental, economic and social aspects alike. The Museum of Fine Arts will use low-impact materials for the planned renovation and use them sparingly; it will optimise its operating and property costs over the course of the buildings’ lifecycle, make a positive contribution to the region’s economy and promote cultural participation and inclusion among vastly different portions of the population.

To ensure that these targets can be met, several different aspects need to be addressed: building shape, energy supply, construction materials, HVAC and lighting technology. Plans for the Stettler Building, for example, which was built in 1879, include insulation for the roof and windows that will also help optimise the building service installations both in terms of dimensioning and operation as well as reduce both the energy requirements and cost of cooling and heating. The property at Hodlerstrasse 6, which was built in the 1950s, will also be renovated and converted in compliance with modern-day energy efficiency guidelines and become more environmentally friendly and economical to operate. This will be done in coordination with the specifications of the Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. The building that will replace the Atelier 5 building, which is currently in such bad condition that a renovation would not make sense from an environmental perspective, will be constructed in line with the principles of sustainability.

Work is currently in progress to clarify whether certain structures of the Atelier 5 building can be left standing and whether some building materials can be reused in an effort to prevent grey greenhouse gas emissions. The circular economy principle is to be embraced when selecting and using materials for the Museum’s renovation. To optimise the use of resources, regional solutions are to be found wherever possible when transporting materials to the Museum and when manufacturing products for the Museum. Building systems and materials should be robust, easy maintenance and also guarantee that they retain their value for a long time to come.

The Museum of Fine Arts of the future will be able to operate on a minimal amount of non-renewable energies and minimise its greenhouse gas emissions. It will purchase renewable energy from local power companies. Even today, Kunstmuseum Bern is already connected to the municipal district heating supply of Energie Wasser Bern. This efficient source of energy is to be contractually guaranteed. Improvements are also planned with respect to the Museum’s own electricity production. Depending on urban planning and monument protection requirements, it might be possible to install a photovoltaic system, etc. on the building.

Museums are buildings with strict requirements regarding the temperature and humidity levels found in exhibition rooms and rooms used for cultural heritage protection. The HVAC systems needed for this make the net-zero target unattainable. Proven sustainability experts are being involved to ensure that the new replacement building is highly energy efficient. They will pursue the architectural solutions capable of satisfying the climate-related requirements with the least technical effort. The use of daylight is being prioritised; this makes sense wherever the daylight does not result in substantially higher temperatures or negatively impact the condition of the works of art.

The transformation of Hodlerstrasse, in particular, improves the urban climate. Porous surfaces (mortar-free pavers) help mitigate excessive heat in summer by letting water drain into the subsurface layer, evaporate again when temperatures rise and cool the surroundings in the process. Planting a new row of trees will also help make the urban environment more pleasant. Not only do the trees provide shade, but the moisture they hold also helps cool their surroundings. With respect to the Museum’s renovation itself, the rooftops would be ideal for planting greenery or installing photovoltaic systems. That is not currently possible within the perimeter of the UNESCO World Heritage site, however – unlike cooling systems, which are already allowed. In light of ongoing climate change, the urban management plan currently in process might revisit this issue. 

Kunstmuseum Bern sees itself as part of a diverse society and aspires to reach all people regardless of their age, origin, education or social status. With its analogue and digital offerings and programmes, the Museum promotes cultural participation while actively eliminating anything that might hinder people’s access. It focuses on the generations of tomorrow, enables analogue and virtual art experiences and stays flexible to ensure that it can withstand changes. Areas that are freely accessible to everybody are just as much a part of this open-door approach as the meeting spaces both indoors and outdoors where people can spend time without being pressured to buy anything; they let people breathe in a bit of Museum air and experience its architecture without having to pay admission in that area. Visitors from all over the world, young and old, feel like they’re being spoken to; they can find their way around with ease and participate without any obstacles.

The Museum is expected to be closed from 2027 to 2029, depending on when construction work begins.

While the Museum is closed for construction from 2027 to 2029, exhibitions and co-productions are being planned in collaboration with a major art institutions in the Canton of Bern. There will be close collaboration with Spiez Castle, for example, which has exhibition facilities where important sets of items from the collection of 19th century Swiss art can be put on display. Along the Tour de Berne, it will be possible to experience many of the Museum’s masterpieces that are not normally allowed to travel in new constellations or uncommon settings. This will be complemented by a playful offering that grants new digital access to the collection.

No, the offerings complement one another. The triangle formed by the art venues on Hodlerstrasse, Zentrum Paul Klee and the museum district will strengthen the profiles of both the City and the Canton of Bern. The Kunstmuseum aims to collaborate with the museum district, particularly with respect to marketing – with the goal of creating a joint presence for Bern’s cultural institutions at both Bern Welcome and Schweiz Tourismus – and also to facilitate activities for groups with special needs such as people who are blind and visually impaired or deaf. And as in the past, close mutual support is also possible through works on loan. Burgergemeinde views the further development of the Kunstmuseum Bern and Zentrum Paul Klee in conjunction with the development of the museum district as a major opportunity for Bern to position itself as a place of culture and museums, both nationally and internationally. 

Several studies over the past few years have examined ways that the Kunstmuseum Bern would be capable of meeting up to the expectations of a professional museum in future while also safeguarding its ability to organise exhibitions of national and international calibre. A new perspective was offered by a feasibility study from spring 2018: instead of renovating the Atelier 5 building at great expense, the best solution would be to replace it; the inclusion of the property at the adjacent Hodlerstrasse 6 plays a major role in this. Thanks to efficient, resource-friendly operation, the renovated building complex and new building would make it possible to enlarge the space while still keeping operating costs stable. If renovated using the sustainable approach described, the Kunstmuseum – nestled between pulsating city life and the hillside on the Aare – invites people to congregate, communicate and offers space for extraordinary art experiences, contemplation and research. Together with the project planned by the City of Bern to upgrade the area between the Federal Palace and Hodlerstrasse, this opens up an opportunity to link urban spaces to the new Kunstmuseum and upgrade the entire upper part of the Old City in the process. 

The new building is to offer space for all of the Kunstmuseum’ collections and exhibitions. Integrated planning and education as well as a blend of art from all genres and eras are the only way to keep operating costs low while simultaneously offering extraordinary cultural experiences. Relocating the contemporary art would also lead to higher costs, since presentations of collections like this are generally among the costliest while simultaneously drawing the fewest visitors. The additional costs incurred through a separate location would also be high due to separate admission, guards and other parallel structures.

The height of the new building was determined based on the eaves height of the fly tower of Bern Theatre. The fact that higher, imposing constructions stand along the edges of the Old City is one characteristic that distinguishes the City of Bern. The new building must take the logic of the city’s skyline into consideration, both in terms of its volumetrics and its impact. The final height will be defined by the architectural competition based on a variety of different criteria and the building permit.

Being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site does not imply any construction ban. The Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments of the City of Bern has been involved in the renovation project from the very start. The sensitive Stettler Building (1879) will be freed up by the new connection to the new building, which would even result in an improvement in the historic cityscape from a historical monuments standpoint. What’s more, the use of certain materials that would be suitable for the Old City forms an integral part of the competition task: It should be viewed as an opportunity to design a contemporary museum building that will become an integral new part of Bern as a UNESCO site. 

A detailed architectural history report explored the quality and significance of the building in detail. The Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments has reached the same conclusions as the report and is open to the possibility of a high-quality new building. Unfortunately, the substance of the Atelier 5 building is in such poor condition that any renovation would not make sense from an environmental perspective. A replacement building will make it possible to embrace a sustainable, environmentally friendly method of construction.

The perimeter is located in the zone subject to the Upper Bern Township Zoning Ordinance. Refraining from issuing building development regulations when conducting a quality assurance procedure is common practice and an option provided for by the Canton of Bern. As a result of this procedure, project proposals must comply with the provisions of the building regulations. That makes the procedure comparable to that of a regular building permit, which is also not subject to a public referendum. 

This is, in fact, one of the first cases of new buildings being planned in the zone subject to the Upper Bern Township Zoning Ordinance. The relevant key figures were discussed with all official bodies and specialist agencies affected.

The jury expects this process to attract a diverse range of international participants comprised not only of established firms but up-and-coming teams, as well. Thanks to a prequalification round, an unlimited number of participants is able to demonstrate their suitability to the task. After that, selected teams will address the urban planning aspects of the project in a targeted manner during Stage 1. The contributions deemed most suitable by the jury will then be developed into detailed project proposals during Stage 2.

The prequalification round is open to all and the criteria to participate are very non-exclusive. The most suitable entries will be selected to move on to the next stage during the subsequent steps of the project. Experience shows that open architectural competitions for museum structures receive far too many entries, which makes the projects much harder to handle without actually producing any greater variety. Additionally, the number of project proposals expected can prevent established firms from participating in open competitions. The jury is certain that these terms and conditions represent a good compromise. 

The jury is balanced in terms of expertise, geography, age and gender. Designing new buildings in a sensitive historical context is not a typically Bernese task, rather a fundamental architectural discipline – which is why the jury members have a broad range of backgrounds. The teams that participate in the competition will also be provided with “Reading aids” on how Bern’s Old City works.

The jury is composed of experts who have amassed a great deal of experience in a variety of different cities, in Switzerland and abroad, designing new buildings in a sensitive historical setting while taking sustainability and the urban climate into consideration. The addition of Prof. Brian Cody also marks the inclusion of a proven expert on energy-efficient urban and building planning. His expertise at the interface between architecture and building services is the biggest boon to the competition. Cody works as a professor at Graz University of Technology and has headed up the Institute of Buildings and Energy since 2004. He has more than 30 years’ experience in researching and planning energy-efficient cities, buildings and systems. Cody is the founder and CEO of the Energy Design Cody consulting firm, which is responsible for developing innovative energy and climate concepts for construction projects around the globe. He has experience working with museums, with one example being the work that his company did in collaboration with Arup to devise the energy concept for the Neues Museum in Berlin (David Chipperfield Architects). Cody is sits on numerous councils and juries, is a visiting professor and Head of the Energy Design Unit at the University of Applied Art in Vienna and author of a book entitled “Form follows Energy”, which was published in 2017.

Past projects failed since they could not be approved (UNESCO World Heritage site) as well as due to the high costs and procedural deficiencies. Lessons have been learned from those past mistakes. Changes made include a feasibility study, in-depth geological and technical studies, inclusion of the Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments and the involvement of process specialists.

Hodlerstrasse is to be transformed into a lively area where people congregate and communicate. The pavers and intense greenery provided by the row of trees will lend the street a completely new look. Visually, it will also pick up on the look found at the paved Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz squares and greatly improve the quality of the time people spend in the central perimeter the upper portion of the Old City. The reduced road surface and new traffic regime with traffic-free periods will enable Kunstmuseum Bern and the PROGR or Turnhalle restaurant to expand outwards. Cooperative arrangements for temporary uses also exist with Bern University of the Arts, the Kornhausforum and other cultural institutions. Restaurants on Hodlerstrasse are also interested. Street concerts, street cafés, performances, art exhibits and art education activities are possible during the periods when the road is closed to traffic. This opens up an attractive, vibrant space in the middle of the city that is accessible to the entire population and where people feel safe.

In the interest of maximising creative freedom for the space in front of Kunstmuseum Bern, the space devoted to traffic will be reduced to a minimum. That means only one lane of traffic will be offered for individual motorised transport (IMT) in one direction (as is currently the case) as well as bike paths in both directions. That will transform Hodlerstrasse into a temporary public zone where people meet and spend time. The best variant that emerged was a traffic concept that closes the street for IMT transit traffic outside peak hours. In line with the approach currently being pursued, this road closure could be in effect from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., for example. Only service access (deliveries, emergency services, road cleaning, etc.) would be permitted during these times. The precise times of the road closures will be worked out during the upcoming project stage and based on congestion. The detailed design will be prepared in agreement with the business associations and residents. Restricted times will probably be indicated by means of signal lights. 

The parking and delivery situation will undergo an in-depth analysis during the detailed planning phase. The situation on Speichergasse will also be included in this. One important factor is that the interests of business traffic must be taken into consideration. For the most part, no parking spaces are to be provided for individual motorised traffic in the area in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. In the event that no satisfactory solution can be found for business-related parking (for cars and tradespeople), the competition programme provides for the option of incorporating the same number of parking spaces as currently in place. 

According to the current plan, Holderstrasse will remain open for traffic during peak traffic periods. In line with the approach currently being pursued, it will be closed from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., for example. Only service access (deliveries, emergency services, road cleaning, etc.) is permitted during these times. Craftsmen and delivery services with business in the affected perimeter can therefore continue to drive in and out at any time. The restricted times will apply to transit traffic and residents. The fixed times make it possible to plan around the new regime; they clearly indicate at which times of the day or night an alternative route is needed. The restriction will be balanced out by the benefits offered by the new traffic regime.

Hodlerstrasse will only be closed to through traffic outside of peak traffic periods. This will not burden the districts significantly because traffic volumes during those times are small. Some 7,000 vehicles currently pass through Hodlerstrasse every day; the majority of these – 51 percent during morning rush hour and 34 percent during evening rush hour – are through traffic along the Nydeggbrücke-Schüttestrasse-Bollwerk thoroughfare.

The only way to upgrade and vitalise Hodlerstrasse to the desired degree is by introducing a new traffic regime and moving the exit of the Metro-Parking car park. The exit must be relocated in order to implement the new traffic regime, create a public space in front of the entrance to the new building and make it easier for pedestrians, bicyclists, etc. to reach the Museum of Fine Arts. In-depth clarifications have confirmed that the relocation of the Metro car park exit is possible from a structural perspective. The exit will be moved to the area where the entrance is currently located. And the entrance will be moved to the side on Schüttestrasse – where some parts of the cleaning station are currently located. This arrangement makes it possible for people to leave the car park and drive toward the lower portion of the Old City; the old ramp at Hodlerstrasse can also be removed at the same time.

The “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” project offers a perfect opportunity to link the hillside on the Aare to the city through criss-crossing, meandering trails. Due to the way the existing paths are arranged and their lengths, it would be possible to create a moderate gradient to overcome the difference in altitude between this area and the city. It is conceivable that the existing paths between the Blutturm (Blood Tower) and the Old City could also be completed, which would strengthen the link between the Aare ahd the city even further. This is only a vision and no specific project is being planned for the time being.

Large portions of Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz will be paved to lend them a more attractive appearance. Also planned are more greenery to improve the urban climate as well as more seating. Both squares should continue to be put to a wide range of uses (recreation, food services, markets, events, deliveries). The main idea is to create a “municipal stage” that satisfies a wide range of different requirements and enables a diverse variety of uses. From a structural perspective, the majority of the area should not be designated as areas for specific uses, but instead designed as neutral in terms of use. As a result, the structural design elements are intentionally unobtrusive.

The thoroughfare for individual motorised transport – except transit related to deliveries and business activities – is already prohibited and that will remain unchanged. Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz are integral components of the inner-city bicycle transit network. A meeting zone will be set up with the goal of enabling the various types of traffic to coexist. To prevent any usage conflicts from arising, the current proposal must include design elements that guide the various types of traffic (incl. slow traffic). The thoroughfare that includes Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz will continue to function as a hub for delivery and business transit.

There is a cost ceiling of CHF 80 million (plus reserves) for the “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” project. It is to be financed through public sector funds, private sponsors, foundations and businesses. According to the financing plan, for the new building to replace the old building, the Canton of Bern will only be charged an amount equal to the costs that would have been incurred anyway for the renovation of the Atelier 5 building, which amount to CHF 40 million. Museum patron Hansjörg Wyss is contributing CHF 25 million through his generous commitment: CHF 20 million for the new replacement building and CHF 5 million for redesigning Hodlerstrasse. He will provide another CHF 5 million subject to the condition that at least another CHF 7.5 million in private funds can be raised for the Museum’s renovation. The financing plan expects a total of CHF 15 million in contributions from private individuals, foundations and businesses. Initial discussions with private sponsors are going well. Actual negotiations with potential donors (foundations, Burgergemeinde Bern, etc.) can only take place once the competition has been concluded and the final project is available. Pledges have already been received from some individuals. If efforts to raise the additional CHF 7.5 million that Hansjörg Wyss stipulated as a condition fail, there will be a total funding shortfall of CHF 12.5 million. The planned project would have to be pared down substantially. 

The costs shown to date were calculated without inflation and are based on the construction index (“Hochbau Espace Mittelland”) from October 2021. The Museum of Fine Arts is currently assuming that inflation will amount to approx. 15 percent by the time construction begins. The Museum must adjust its financing plan accordingly. For the canton, this will result in higher costs, as is the case with all other construction projects: The forecast inflation would increase its contribution to the new building for the Museum of Fine Arts from CHF 40 million (what it would cost to renovate the Atelier 5 building) to CHF 46 million. The renovation of the Stettler Building will now cost around CHF 21 million instead of CHF 18.5 million as previously calculated. The share the Museum of Fine Arts is required to raise from private funds will increase from CHF 40 to 46 million due to inflation. The Museum of Fine Arts intends to cover this cost increase through additional fundraising; if that fails, the number of square meters planned for the new building will have to be reduced.

Kunstmuseum Bern INFINITE is a first, innovative fundraising project in favour of "Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern": selected artists create digital homages to a work from the collection of the Kunstmuseum Bern. Art lovers can purchase these artworks as NFT (Non Fungible Tokens) and thus contribute to the replacement of the physical Kunstmuseum. Kunstmuseum Bern INFINITE was developed by the agency furrerhugi. and the NFT specialist Tokengate. With the "Virtual Art Circle", a separate association was founded for this fundraising project, which accompanies the operational implementation.

Yes. The agreement between the Wyss Foundation and the Foundation of the Kunstmuseum Bern was duly signed in April 2022. The agreement with the Wyss Foundation is based on the basic “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” concept from 2021. The concept’s essential elements are made up of the building complex that includes the Stettler Building, the new replacement building (instead of a costly renovation of the Atelier 5 building) and Hodlerstrasse 6 (with building rights granted by the City of Bern as benefactor) as well as the upgrading of Hodlerstrasse with a temporary public zone created through a new traffic concept and rearrangement of the Metro-Parking car park’s entrance and exit. The overall concept was developed in a collaborative effort and the respective property developers will cover the costs. The Foundation of the Kunstmuseum Bern will fund the Museum buildings with a cantonal contribution and the support of Hansjörg Wyss as well as other private sponsors and foundations. The city will cover the costs for public spaces and streets with the exception of Hodlerstrasse 6, for which the city will transfer building and usage rights to the Museum at no charge. The Kunstmuseum will compensate the City of Bern for the cost of changes made to Metro-Parking and for upgrades made to Hodlerstrasse through a public infrastructure contract; this will be negotiated once the results of the competition are available. The project can only be implemented through the contributions of all the partners. 

Hansjörg Wyss’s contractually agreed support for the Museum’s renovation is linked to improvements in sojourn quality along Hodlerstrasse. This can be achieved by redesigning the street, implementing a new traffic regime and relocating the exit of the Metro-Parking car park. The exit must be relocated in order to implement the new traffic regime, create a public space in front of the entrance to the new building and make it easier for pedestrians, bicyclists, etc. to reach the Museum of Fine Arts. The only way to upgrade and vitalise Hodlerstrasse to the desired degree is by introducing a new traffic regime. One of Hansjörg Wyss’s priorities is ensuring that the traffic situation calms down. The tunnel solution he had originally proposed, however, is not a condition for his financial support.

The renovation of the Stettler Building is necessary independently of the “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” project. The canton must only invest as much money in this renovation as it would have cost to renovate the Atelier 5 building. However, clarification work done in preparation for the project competition has shown that the greatest synergies can be expected from a simultaneous renovation of the Stettler Building and that this will minimise the burden on residents: The construction site will only have to be set up once and the Kunstmuseum will only have to be closed once; the Museum will be fully functional and accessible as soon as the construction work has been completed. In accordance with the Culture Promotion Act, the Canton of Bern facilitates the preservation and development of prominent cultural institutions, which also includes maintaining the properties of the Kunstmuseum Bern. 

The previous cost estimate was based on a condition analysis and calculation of investment costs from 2012. Estimates had been made at the time regarding the residual life of the individual elements of the building. Many of the measures planned at the time were not carried out in the past ten years, which has caused the maintenance backlog to swell even further. The new estimate is based on an integrated renovation of the Stettler Building at the same time as the new building. More extensive work is needed to ensure that the building, which was most recently renovated in 1999, is also up to date in terms of energy efficiency and that it can be operated for as long as possible without any further interruptions. That work will create sustainable added value. As a result, the initially lower estimate for the renovation costs has to be adjusted to CHF 18.5 million (without inflation).

Hodlerstrasse 6 plays a pivotal role in the renovation project: the Kunstmuseum will gain a new administrative building in the immediate vicinity, meaning it will not have to build any additional expensive office spaces in the new replacement building. That will enable more space for culture and is a contribution toward sustainable real estate use. The solution also offers organisational advantages: there are strong operational interdependencies between many departments at the Kunstmuseum, with some examples being art education, the archive, curation of the collection and exhibition management. Housing the Museum’s administration elsewhere in the city or region would also be financially inadvisable: additional rent would result in a permanent increase in the cost of operation going forward. The renovation of Hodlerstrasse 6 is included in the current cost estimate.

Assuming inflation of 15 percent, the costs for the new building and renovation of the Stettler Building and Hodlerstrasse 6 will now come to a total of CHF 67 million.

The Kunstmuseum Bern would very likely have to be closed in part. Specifically, operations at the Atelier 5 building may only continue until the end of 2030 for structural reasons. It was only thanks to a variety of immediate remedial measures taken in 2020 that operations could be guaranteed until the end of the decade. If Parliament rejects the planning or implementation loan, the competition would have to be reorganised. Whether a renovation could still take place on time is unknown. What’s more, new funding would also have to be found, since the support from private individuals and businesses is linked to the “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” project. The damage not only to the people of Bern but also the Canton of Bern as a place to live, a cultural centre and a tourist destination would be enormous. The planned renovations, which will be coordinated with the new building, are sustainable in every respect. Improvised solutions are not possible due to the buildings’ poor structural condition and aspects related to energy efficiency. The renovation of the current expansion would not be sustainable since that would not make it possible to compensate for the operational and environmental disadvantages. 

The Stettler Building, the building at Hodlerstrasse 6 and the new building should form a functional complex. There are technical, structure and operational reasons that speak in favour of integrated planning and implementation. That is the only way to operate the three parts of the building sustainably and efficiently in future, since this makes it possible to coordinate the technical systems, like the heating and air conditioning systems, for example, as well as possible.

The new building will enable major improvements to be made to internal procedures including art logistics, guard-related expenses and energy requirements. The managers at the Museum have worked together with external experts to prepare a detailed analysis of the operating costs as well as an operating cost plan. The calculations are also based on experience gained from construction projects at other museums (the new building for Kunsthaus Zürich, for example). The operating costs of the competition projects will be precisely evaluated on the basis of a Museum-specific valuation model as well as a requirement to provide evidence for lifecycle costs. The management concept is to be applied to all three building complexes; both technical synergies and organisational structures are to be planned for the Museum as a whole.

Experience gained through construction projects at other museums in Switzerland shows that a new building causes visitor interest to increase substantially in the first few years. Later, its popularity will hinge on the exhibition programme again. The new replacement building will make it possible to offer more attractive services and art experiences, and that will provide an opportunity to sustainably increase visitor numbers. Studies show that the cultural audience generally attaches great importance not only to the cultural but also to the food service offerings; they spend about CHF 200 per day of their stay on shopping, accommodations and food and drinks. Based on that, the renovation of the Kunstmuseum Bern can be expected to generate consumer spending in the amount of CHF 25 million per year.

The city, both in its role as a capital city and as the canton’s main city, benefits in several ways from the “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” project. In addition to the cultural policy benefits and the new opportunities it opens up for the hotel industry, the food service industry and retail trade, it also offers a unique opportunity to coordinate the redesigning of Hodlerstrasse with the Museum’s new building, thereby upgrading the city from an urban development perspective. It will make Hodlerstrasse vibrant area where more people spend time up and communicate. Additional benefits will also come from the planned improvements to Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz, which are independent of the Museum’s renovation but will be coordinated with it: doing so will create a link between urban space and the more attractive Kunstmuseum Bern; the entire upper part of the Old City will become more important and gain appeal. All the improvements bundled into this overall project offer promising prospects for the City of Bern. Another benefit: The Museum’s upgrading relies on energy-efficient, climate-friendly solutions for renovation, reconstruction and construction of the new building, meaning that it also supports the sustainability strategy of the City of Bern.

The Communal Parliament wants to contribute to the success of the “Zukunft Kunstmuseum Bern” project in several different ways. To enable the planned renovation, it decided to transfer building rights to the portion of the building at Hodlerstrasse 6 to the Foundation of the Kunstmuseum Bern at no charge. This is possible because the current tenant, the Bern Cantonal Police, intends to set up a new police centre in Niederwangen. Furthermore, the city plans to upgrade Hodlerstrasse in sync with the new museum building being planned; part of that includes moving the exit of the Metro-Parking car park to a different location and making a coordinated effort to press ahead with efforts to redesign Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz. The cost of redesigning Hodlerstrasse and moving the Metro-Parking exit are still being cleared up. A statement can be made on this once the results of the competition have come in.

The redesigning of Hodlerstrasse is a unique opportunity to upgrade the city both culturally and from an urban development perspective. Provided the canton and Burgergemeinde have a comparable financial stake in the project, the Communal Parliament wants to relinquish the building rights to Hodlerstrasse 6 at no charge. The contribution from the canton is estimated at around CHF 40 million, which corresponds to 50% of the cost of the new building. The Canton of Bern has included its share of the financing, which amounts to CHF 40 million, as well as the funds required for the simultaneous renovation of the Stettler Building, in its investment planning. The Cantonal Parliament will reach a decision regarding project planning and implementation once the results of the competition are available. A funding application based on the specific project is to be submitted to Burgergemeinde Bern. Burgergemeinde Bern is already embracing its role as benefactor, however: it finances exhibition projects at the Kunstmuseum Bern and Zentrum Paul Klee during the year through a foundation it set up specifically for that purpose: Museumsstiftung für Kunst der Burgergemeinde Bern. Since the signed building rights contract must be on hand at the start of the competition, this contract is to be concluded without any restrictions or dependencies with respect to financial guarantees from the Canton or Burgergemeinde Bern. If participation in the project on the part of the Canton and Burgergemeinde is inadequate, something which is not expected to happen, ground rent of CHF 21.00 per m2 shall become due from the time the new museum opens; this is the same arrangement as for Kunsthalle Bern. A corresponding provision is contained in the building rights contract.

Granting building rights to the Foundation of the Museum of Fine Arts Bern will cause the City of Bern to miss out on income of CHF 56,280 per year. This is equal to the ground rent of CHF 21.00 per m2 of floor space charged to Kunsthalle Bern, for example. At an interest rate of 3.5% and considering the 80-year duration of the building rights, this corresponds to a cash value of CHF 1.5 million. Based on current rental income and taking normal cost figures and necessary repair costs into consideration, the building’s market value is estimated at CHF 4.9 million. Foregone earnings are calculated using the building’s estimated market value and the capitalised value of the ground rent; this comes to a total of CHF 6.4 million. From a financial perspective, the free transfer of the portion of the building to the Foundation of the Museum of Fine Arts Bern results in a write-down of CHF 333,254 to the 2028 global budget of Immobilien Stadt Bern (the real estate department of the City of Bern) at the time of the transfer (presumably on 31 December 2028).

Kunstmuseum Bern estimated in a feasibility study that it would cost CHF 6.3 million to repair Hodlerstrasse 6. That means that, for the City of Bern, the free transfer of building rights on the property is effectively a zero-sum game. It waives some CHF 6.4 million in income but will not have to maintain the building for as long as the rights are transferred to the Museum of Fine Arts (80 years); it saves on renovation and maintenance. The CHF 6.3 million cost estimate is merely a rough estimate and the actual costs could be higher. What’s more, the city also saves itself the operating costs of approx. CHF 100,000 per year for 80 years. The overall calculation puts the loss of the ground rent into perspective.

Pursuant to Article 100 of the Communal Constitution, foregone earnings are treated the same as expenditure for the purpose of determining authority. 

Authority for property transactions is governed by Article 143 of the Communal Constitution of the City of Bern of 3 December 1998 (GO; SSSB 101.1). Accordingly, authority for sales transactions is determined on the basis of the sales price, but at least by the fair market value. In the case of limited rights in rem with annually recurring benefits, the capitalised value is decisive. 

Based on current rental income and taking normal cost figures and necessary repair costs into consideration, the building’s market value is 
estimated at CHF 4,900,000.00. In this case, foregone earnings are comprised of the building’s estimated market value and the capitalised value of the ground rent in the amount of CHF 1,505,421.00. Given the relevant total amount of CHF 6,405,421.00, that means authority to approve the handing over of building rights lies with the City Council pursuant to Art. 51(1) GO. At its meeting on November 24, 2022, the City Council approved the handing over in building rights by a large majority.

Like other public authorities, the Communal Parliament embraces its responsibility as a benefactor. The Kunstmuseum and the street in front of it (Hodlerstrasse) together with Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz are pivotal elements of the upper part of the Old City and important factors in the attractiveness of the city centre. These meeting places are urgently in need of upgrading and politicians have been calling for improvements for some time already. That means the overall project is highly important for Bern’s appeal as Switzerland’s capital city and as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Implementation is possible within the scope of the available funds.