Over a century after its inauguration, the Swiss National Museum in Zurich was due for an update. Christ & Gantenbein had the winning proposal to design the museum's new extension wing, which appears like a “dramatically bent bridge”. Most recently, the extension won a Gold Award in last year's Best Architects 18 competition in the Public Buildings category.
Keep reading for more about the project.
Closing the existing building's U-shaped perimeter, the extension wing lets visitors experience exhibitions along a path without interruption, while keeping access from the museum's courtyard to the neighboring Platzspitz Park open.
Combining the old and new, Christ & Gantenbein's design of the extension reinterprets architectural motifs in the existing museum building. For instance, the origami-like folds of the extension's roof are a reference to the pitched-roof composition of the original building.
The double-wall construction of the new building is as thick as the original 19th-century walls, but it also meets contemporary energy-saving standards. The extension comprises of flexible exhibition spaces, a study center with a library, and a large auditorium.
Find more project drawings in the gallery below.
All photos courtesy of Best Architects 18.
Kinderspace: Architecture for Children's Development
Register by Wed, Nov 13, 2024
Submit by Wed, Dec 18, 2024
2025 Lyceum Fellowship - A Community for the Future of Food
Register/Submit by Thu, May 22, 2025
Morocco Oasis Retreat
Register by Thu, Nov 14, 2024
Submit by Thu, Dec 12, 2024
Peja Culture Pavilion
Register by Wed, Dec 11, 2024
Submit by Tue, Jan 28, 2025
No Comments