Questions and answers

The Atelier 5 building is in urgent 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 and deliveries no longer complies with modern-day standards. It is only thanks to emergency renovations carried out to the statics and HVAC system in 2019/2020 that the building can continue to be used until the end of the decade. The new replacement building will enable the Kunstmuseum to create visitor-friendly exhibition and depot rooms that satisfy modern-day standards and to open the museum up toward the city and the hillside on the Aare while also offering new art experiences. The renovated Stettler Building, the addition of the Hodlerstrasse 6 office building and the new replacement building will enable the Kunstmuseum to fulfil its mandate of protecting, caring for and sharing the first-rate cultural assets entrusted to it, allowing it to evolve in a sustainable and forward-looking way as a cultural beacon of Canton Bern.

The Kunstmuseum Bern of the 21st century is not a temple for art; instead, it focuses on the needs of people: an inviting, open entrance to the building is just as important as spacious mediation rooms, attractive catering options and spaces for visitors to relax, meet and exchange ideas. The new building will enable 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. 

Thanks to its collections and exhibitions, Kunstmuseum Bern enjoys a great response from the public and media, and is recognised both nationally and internationally as a renowned address for studying and educating art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum welcomes 100,000 visitors a year. What the Kunstmuseum lacks is a modern, sustainable infrastructure. More suitable exhibition rooms and state-of-the-art infrastructure will enable the museum to play more effectively to its strengths, better engage with the public and continue its successful international collaboration.

Gentle transitions from the street to the building will make the renewed museum easily accessible. Going forward, the entrance clearly visible from the outside and the foyer will welcome visitors with an inviting gesture. The new, open and bright exhibition rooms will create the perfect conditions for a wonderful art experience. The art education centre will get new, spacious rooms for its diverse offering and direct access to the newly created Aare-side terrace. 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. 

All artistic media can coexist without any restrictions in the new rooms: works on paper can be displayed next to sculptures, paintings, installations or videos. All of the museum’s activities, even those which could previously only take place behind the scenes, will also be shared. A new staging room will give the public the opportunity to gain an insight into ongoing restoration projects or works to be specially installed. The research lab will make it possible to share the latest exciting research questions – for example, in the area of provenance research. Furthermore, the museum 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 into 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. Kunstmuseum Bern considers itself part of an inclusive society in which everyone is welcome. This requires interactive formats and opportunities to take part, and these will play an increasingly important role in art education activities. 

Visiting a museum is a holistic experience. With that in mind, the plans include an attractive catering 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 architectural 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 renewal 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 aspects, has been incorporated into the competition programme. This 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 Kunstmuseum will use low-impact materials for the planned renewal and use them sparingly; it will optimise its operating and property costs over the course of the buildings’ life cycle, make a positive contribution to the region’s economy and promote cultural participation and inclusion among vastly different portions of the population.

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 guarantee that they retain their value for a long time to come. Studies at the beginning of the competition process showed that there were no preferences regarding preservation or reconstruction with regard to sustainability over the entire life cycle. The solid construction will indeed consume more grey energy during construction, but will make it possible to save energy on climate control during operation. As such, sustainability has been incorporated as a key selection criterion throughout the entire competition process under the leadership of Prof. Brian Cody.

The Kunstmuseum 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 shall continue to be guaranteed.

Museums are buildings with strict requirements for consistent temperature and humidity levels in exhibition rooms and rooms used for cultural heritage protection. 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. Carbon-free operation is possible, making the net-zero target attainable, as long as the electricity and district heating come from renewable energy sources.

The transformation of Hodlerstrasse in particular will improve the urban climate. Porous surfaces (mortar-free paving) 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. Planted areas are envisaged for the planned museum square as well. There will be a gap between the new building and the Stettler Building which will allow cooler air from the slope of the Aare to flow into the city.

The winning project from the international architectural competition presents a convincing solution for the challenging site and is the most suitable option for further processing and realisation. The jury’s reasoning can be summarised as follows:

• The expansion of the Kunstmuseum is based on a distinctive new building that complements the row of prestigious public buildings on the northern slope of the Aare River. The building makes full use of the height cited as possible in the feasibility study, forms a moderate high point similar to that of the City Theatre’s fly tower, and fits in well with the city skyline. The free-standing new building forms a distinctive counterpart to the neoclassical Stettler Building, which is given significantly more space and regains its architectural independence.
• The new building will be set back from Hodlerstrasse, creating a spacious forecourt which will invite people to visit the museum and make it possible to use the space in new ways. This creates clear added value for both the city and the museum. The new museum square will serve as a meeting point and place for art in public spaces. The ground-level bistro in the Hodlerstrasse 6 building will become a lively part of the square.
• The Stettler Building, the new building and the property at Hodlerstrasse 6 will form an ensemble around the museum square, architecturally bound together by the clever spatial layout of the buildings. The three separate buildings from different eras with their individual characteristics will play off one another, giving the museum square a dynamic feel.
• A terraced courtyard garden will link the new building with the bistro and draw more attention to the city walls. A wide outdoor staircase between the Stettler Building and the new building will lead down to the new Aare-side terrace, a public space that can be used in a variety of ways – as a picnic area for schools or for art education activities.
• The clarity of the urban design continues indoors. The main entrance to the Kunstmuseum in the new building opens into a spacious foyer visible from outside that can be accessed regardless of whether one is visiting the museum and where various activities can take place. From here, the stairs and elevators lead clearly through the entire building. A trip to the museum becomes a “two-part” visit and therefore double the experience: firstly, guests can explore the new building with its three stand-alone exhibition rooms located one above the other. Secondly, the new building features a passage to the Stettler Building, providing an insight into the character of a 19th century art museum. A spacious exhibition area under the museum square connects the new building with the Stettler Building and leads into a room twice the height with unexpected light and views.
• The new building has a unique façade which incorporates elements of traditional Bernese quarrying. The sandstone façade features a rough surface on the ground floor and becomes smoother towards the top. Carefully positioned window openings allow unparalleled views in and out. On the third floor, a skylight ceiling creates a special atmosphere.

Bern is getting a distinctive museum building with a timeless look and a museum square lending it a sense of identity; it will be an open museum which is easy to find and not hidden behind closed walls and fragments of façades. The Kunstmuseum will become a lively place connected to the public space.

The project name “Eiger” fits perfectly: the striking, free-standing new building radiates permanence, its unfussy appearance represents lasting values and at the same time incorporates the grandeur of the Alpine panorama. The fact that higher, prestigious constructions stand along the edges of the Old City is one characteristic that distinguishes the City of Bern. The new building will fit in well with the city skyline and allow the Kunstmuseum to have an impact even from a distance; the Kunstmuseum is easy to spot when coming into Bern by train or from the Kornhausbrücke. The winning team, Schmidlin Architekten, took the opportunity to design a contemporary museum building that integrates well into the UNESCO city of Bern.

The young and innovative office of Schmidlin Architekten (Zurich and Engadine) has experience with complex public construction projects and deals intensively with conversions and extensions to listed buildings in urban and rural contexts. In Susch, in Lower Engadine, the team converted several historic buildings, some dating back to the 12th century, into a museum for contemporary art. The team managed to preserve the protected historic buildings while at the same time creating new exhibition rooms that meet modern requirements. In 2019, Muzeum Susch was selected as Building of the Year by Swiss-Architects. The firm is currently working on the conversion and renovation of the Historic Museum Thurgau in Frauenfeld Castle, a listed building. In Würenlingen in Canton Aargau, the team converted a late Baroque listed farmhouse in the historic village centre into a cultural centre and added an extension; this houses the public library, exhibition rooms and a hall. In Basel, Schmidlin Architekten created an art gallery on the premises of a former car repair workshop. In 2014, the firm won the award for sustainable construction in the Alpine region for its restoration of a 500-year-old barn (Stalla Madulain project).

When developing the project further, the façade’s potential to create a flowing structure should be exploited in order to create deeper links to the surroundings. Furthermore, the extent to which remedial work is possible in the protected Stettler and Hodlerstrasse 6 buildings must be checked. When designing the outdoor space, planted areas should be included to improve the urban climate. Various needs will be coordinated with the museum’s curatorial concept with regard to the multiple use of the foyer and multifunctional room. A jury committee will supervise the revision of the project. Further development will take place together with the city’s Office for the Preservation of Historical Monuments. The monument preservation officer was a member of the expert jury.

Thanks to their height and higher permissible loads, the rooms in the new building will enable Kunstmuseum Bern to present exhibitions which were not previously possible to hold. The new rooms and clear visitor paths form a valuable addition to the historic exhibition rooms in the Stettler Building, where the Kunstmuseum’s collections and exhibitions can be experienced in renovated rooms.

The project will bring about an extensive optimisation and simplification of art and goods logistics. Goods elevators will connect all floors, and the location of the rooms (delivery, acceptance and distribution, art handling, protection of cultural property) allows for a resource-efficient solution. Safety can also be optimised owing to clear floor plans. In addition, there will also be new, efficient HVAC systems, the façade construction will have low maintenance costs and low-maintenance materials and constructions will be used. All of this enables much more efficient operation and stable operating costs while covering a larger area. Despite there being more exhibition space, no extra staff are required for the museum ticket desk, shop or for supervision. The solid construction of the new building will reduce the energy required and the layout of the rooms will improve art logistics.

The current building situation – characterised by a number of different levels, difficulties in handling deliveries, depositories which are too small, temporary workshops, inefficient and outdated technology and poor insulation – is insufficient and no longer meets contemporary needs. The solution concepts from a feasibility study in 2018, which propose a new building, allow the museum to be run in a significantly more efficient way that uses resources sparingly and keeps operating costs stable, while at the same time improving the exhibition space in terms of quality and size. If renewed using the sustainable approach described, the Kunstmuseum – nestled between pulsating city life and the hillside on the Aare – would invite people to congregate, communicate and offer 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 would open 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 architectural competition is based on the core “Kunstmuseum Bern of the future” concept, which was presented to the general public in 2021. The key elements of this concept involve expanding the zone under consideration to include the building complex with the historic Stettler Building, the Atelier 5 building and the building at Hodlerstrasse 6, as well as work to upgrade Hodlerstrasse with a new traffic concept and relocate the exit to the Metro-Parking car park. The competition programme did not focus on maximising the available space but on the needs of society, in addition to a wide range of other conditions, such as cultural heritage protection, sustainability and monument preservation requirements.

The overall costs for the renovation of the Stettler Building, Hodlerstrasse 6 and the new replacement building amount to around CHF 147 million. This includes expected construction inflation of around CHF 27 million until the complex is opened in 2033.

Reserves of around 10 million are included. The cost accuracy of +/- 25% corresponds to the current project planning status and will, as usual, amount to +/- 10% as the project plans become more firmly established.

Cost management in accordance with the design-to-cost method will ensure compliance with cost specifications. Potential risks – especially regarding the subsoil, excavation pit and underpinning – have been carefully assessed and included in the rough cost estimate to avoid unpleasant surprises to the furthest extent possible.

The project is to be financed through public sector funds, private patrons, foundations and businesses. The financing plan envisages the canton covering the costs for the renovation of the Stettler Building and the costs that would have been incurred for the renovation of the Atelier 5 building. In addition, the canton is being requested to assume all the costs associated with inflation, as the Kunstmuseum Bern Foundation cannot bear this risk. Hansjörg Wyss, Chairman of the Wyss Foundation, is contributing CHF 30 million through his generous commitment: CHF 20 million for the new replacement building and CHF 5 million for upgrades to the visitor experience along Hodlerstrasse, in particular with the removal of the Metro Parking exit. 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 renewal. The financing plan anticipates contributions from private individuals, foundations and businesses amounting to CHF 52 million (including the contribution from Hansjörg Wyss).

Inflation has risen sharply between the feasibility study conducted in 2018 (index 99.7) and the cost calculations in the competition process in 2024 (index 113.7). When adjusted for inflation, the project that won the competition is within the target costs. Expected inflation until completion is estimated at 10%, which represents around 1% inflation per year. There were various scenarios for calculating inflation, each in the middle and upper band of price stability, i.e. between 1 and 2% annual inflation. If the forecast of 10% is correct, the overall costs for the renewal and expansion of the Kunstmuseum will amount to around CHF 147 million once construction is completed. The same inflation would apply to the renovation of the Atelier 5 building. However, the absolute amount that inflation would apply to would be lower. The costs for renovation without any additional benefits would only be around CHF 20 million lower for the canton than for the expansion project with the new building.

For various reasons, the Atelier 5 building may only continue to operate until the end of 2030. 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 the planning or implementation loan is rejected, there are two alternatives:

• Renovations will not be carried out on the Atelier 5 building, and the building will be closed, resulting in the loss of 2,000 m² of exhibition space. The Kunstmuseum will no longer be in a position to maintain the exhibition programme and presentation of the collections in accordance with its service agreement. International lending of artworks would grind to a halt owing to the poor delivery situation. Likely consequences of a limited offering: sponsorship income and third-party funds plummet, new bequests are not received. The museum no longer fulfils contractually agreed requirements (foundation charters, associated foundations) and has to cut back on its art education programmes for schools. The private funds secured for the “Kunstmuseum Bern of the future” project are dropped. Canton Bern suffers damage to its reputation.
• The existing buildings are renovated and continue to operate as before. The exhibition space will not be smaller than it is today, but the promise to become an open and barrier-free museum connected to the city cannot be fulfilled. The delivery situation remains unchanged – the museum will be isolated from international art lending, and the existing exhibition programme cannot be continued. Operating costs remain high. The provision of rooms for education and mediation does not meet contemporary requirements. Hodlerstrasse is not upgraded or revitalised and the city is not connected to the slope of the Aare River. The opportunity to raise private funds for this project is limited; the CHF 30 million from Hansjörg Wyss is forfeit. Renovation options without any additional benefits cost around CHF 75 million and thus approx. CHF 20 million less than the expansion project with the new building.

Now that the architectural competition has finished and the project is available, actual negotiations with potential donors can begin. Many preliminary discussions have already taken place. Private individuals, foundations and businesses have promised support. The museum foundation of the Burgergemeinde Bern pledged CHF 2 million at an early stage. Further pledges amounting to millions of Swiss francs have been made by private individuals. 

Yes. The agreement between the Wyss Foundation and the Kunstmuseum Bern Foundation was duly signed in April 2022. The agreement with the Wyss Foundation is based on the basic “Kunstmuseum Bern of the future” concept from 2021. The key elements of this concept involve expanding the zone under consideration to include the building complex of the Stettler Building, 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 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 Kunstmuseum Bern Foundation intends to fund the museum buildings with a cantonal contribution and the support of Hansjörg Wyss as well as other private donors and foundations. The city will cover the costs for public spaces and streets. 

Hodlerstrasse 6 plays a pivotal role in the renovation project: the Kunstmuseum will gain a new administrative building and bistro 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.

The Kunstmuseum Bern of the future offers a unique, holistic artistic and cultural experience with national and international appeal. Kunstmuseum Bern appeals to everyone and inspires engagement with art and social values, encounters, dialogue and interactions.

All its activities are geared equally toward audiences of all ages – from knowledgeable art aficionados to an inclusive population consisting of both residents and visitors in all their diversity. Kunstmuseum Bern is a vibrant place for extraordinary art experiences, contemplation, research and encounters. With this new infrastructure, Kunstmuseum Bern can therefore continue to fulfil its mandate of protecting, caring for and sharing the first-rate art collection entrusted to it, offering activities to school classes from the entire canton, loaning artworks to other cultural centres in the canton and providing assistance with questions relating to provenance research. The national and international appeal of Kunstmuseum Bern is preserved, and operation for the public and subsequent generations is secured. The museum’s renewal relies on energy-efficient, climate-friendly solutions for renovation, reconstruction and construction of the new building, meaning that it also follows the sustainability strategy of Canton Bern.

The city, both in its role as a capital city and as the canton’s main city, benefits in several ways from the renovated museum: in addition to the cultural policy benefits and the new opportunities it opens up for the hotel, catering and retail industries, 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. Further 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, linking the urban space with the more attractive Kunstmuseum. 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. 

No, the offerings complement one another. The triangle formed by the art venues on Hodlerstrasse, Zentrum Paul Klee and the museum district near Helvetiaplatz will strengthen the profiles of both the City of Bern and Canton Bern. The Kunstmuseum aims to collaborate with the museum district, particularly with respect to marketing and mutual projects in the area of art and art education. And as in the past, close mutual support is also possible through works on loan. The further development of Kunstmuseum Bern and Zentrum Paul Klee in conjunction with the development of the museum district is a major opportunity for Bern to position itself as a place of culture and museums, both nationally and internationally. 

The museum is expected to be closed from 2029 to 2033, depending on when construction work begins.

While the museum is closed for construction from 2029 to 2033, exhibitions and co-productions are being planned in collaboration with a variety of art institutions in Canton 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.

A key element of the planned Kunstmuseum expansion is the upgrading of Hodlerstrasse. The aim is to make this an attractive destination for both museum visitors and the general public alike. This involves moderate traffic calming measures in addition to the construction plans (moving the Metro-Parking exit, redesigning the street). The paving and intense greenery provided by the row of trees will lend the street a completely new look. Visually, Hodlerstrasse will follow on from the look found at the paved Bärenplatz and Waisenhausplatz squares, which will also be paved in future, and thus greatly improve the quality of the time people spend in the central perimeter of the upper portion of the Old City. A reduction in road surface and parking spaces will enable the Kunstmuseum and the PROGR or Turnhalle restaurant to open up 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. This opens up an attractive, vibrant space in the middle of the city that is accessible to the entire population and where people feel at ease.

As things stand today, traffic calming measures will involve a temporary closure of Hodlerstrasse for motorised private vehicles outside peak hours; detailed arrangements need to be modified in the planning process. The idea of upgrading Hodlerstrasse fulfils a long-standing wish of politicians and the public. In general, the goals of the proposed traffic calming measures are also widely supported. While the actual "Kunstmuseum Bern of the future" project is uncontested, the scheduled temporary closure for motorised private vehicles outside peak hours has met with criticism from business associations. The city and the museum are taking this criticism seriously and, in the spirit of active participation, wish to incorporate these critical opinions into future planning. Until the Kunstmuseum’s new building is complete, the intervening time should be used to develop a solution that best caters to all interests by means of test planning. In the coming months, a meeting zone will be set up in front of the Kunstmuseum, selectively furnished and evaluated in an initial step to learn more for the purpose of planning. Those involved hope that this will provide valuable insights for the solution that will eventually be implemented, and are convinced that this approach will produce a solution that reconciles the interests of the museum, city, the general public, districts and businesses.

For the most part, no parking spaces are to be provided for motorised private vehicles in the area in front of the Kunstmuseum. The parking and delivery situation will undergo an in-depth analysis during the detailed planning phase. One important factor is that the interests of business traffic must be taken into consideration.

The only way to upgrade and revitalise Hodlerstrasse to the desired degree is by moving the Metro-Parking exit introducing a new traffic regime. The exit must be relocated in order to create a public space in front of the entrance to the new building and make it easier for pedestrians, cyclists, etc. to reach the Kunstmuseum. 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. 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 be removed at the same time.