Herzog and de Meuron to design Museum of the 20th Century in Berlin
Swiss studios Herzog & de Meuron and Vogt Landscape Architects have won the keenly-contested design competition for the Museum of the 20th Century in Berlin.
Over 40 firms – including Sou Fujimoto, Zaha Hadid Architects, David Chipperfield, OMA, Snøhetta and SANAA – were invited to submit their proposals for the site, which will be located within the city’s cultural forum complex.
The €200m (US$218.8m, £179.4m) museum will house a number of internationally significant artworks, including the National Gallery’s extensive 20th century collection.
The winning concept imagines the museum as a brick house with a large gabled roof resembling a barn or warehouse. It is divided into four thematic quadrants, with visitors able to travel on multiple paths through the galleries. A huge sycamore tree will feature in the northeast quadrant, shading a café and a restaurant.
One of Herzog and de Meuron’s priorities is to forge a connection between the museum and the neighbouring cultural buildings – including the National Gallery, Philharmonic Hall, Museum of Decorative Arts and Paintings Gallery – via a new East-West axis.
In a statement, the studio said: "The museum is the place where different paths cross, where different mentalities and worlds allow an encounter. It has several entrances, as it is oriented in all directions. It draws attention to the local collection of art."
Arno Lederer, the chair of the competition journey, said the design “eludes entirely the standard notions of how a museum should look at this place” and praised it as “unique, restrained and creating a strong impression.”
Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter and landscape architects SCHØNHER were second in the competition, and Bruno Fioretti Marquez and Capatti Staubach Landscape Architects placed third.
In recent months Herzog and de Meuron have celebrated the opening of two other high-profile art museum projects: extensions to the Tate Modern in London and the Unterlinden Museum in Colmar, France.
Herzog and de Meuron Museum of the 20th Century architecture design Berlin Cultural ForumSnøhetta, SANAA and Sou Fujimoto among big hitters in the running to design Berlin art museum
Herzog & de Meuron's Tate Modern extension opens in London
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
Creating the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York involved meticulous planning. Its director Alice Greenwald tells us more