Kunstmuseum Bern of the future.
The architectural competition

What should the Kunstmuseum Bern of the future look like? Five years ago, this question was put to the people of Bern at public events. Their responses, together with the requirements for running a modern museum, resulted in an international architectural competition. The winning project has now been selected.

The Kunstmuseum Bern first opened its doors 145 years ago and the building has been extended twice since then. The old building from 1879 and the 1984 extension (situated on a foundation dating from 1936) are in need of renovation. In certain areas, operation is only possible with special permits. On the basis of a feasibility study, the project was put to tender in the form of an architectural competition to design a new building to replace the current extension. As part of an open two-stage process, 148 teams of architects submitted applications. The jury selected 39 firms for the next stage of the competition.

The winning project, along with all the other projects submitted, can be seen in the exhibition. Admission is free.