The office of Peter Zumthor has been selected to design an expansion to the Beyeler Foundation, located just outside Zumthor’s childhood home of Basel, Switzerland. The Swiss architect was chosen from a prestigious shortlist of 11 firms to add to the existing museum building, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and completed in 1997.
“The sky above Basel, the city and its surroundings–those are the landscapes of my youth,” said Zumthor. “It is heart-warming to be able to design a major building here.”
Zumthor’s design was unanimously named the winner by an international jury board, which included Swiss billionaire philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, Chairman Emeritus of Vitra Rolf Fehlbaum, Tate Museums Director Sir Nicholas Serota and architects Roger Diener and Jean Nouvel.
“The interaction of human beings, nature, art and architecture is one of the keystones of the Fondation Beyeler’s success, and was also essential for the development of Renzo Piano’s award-winning museum. Peter Zumthor possesses the sensitivity and experience that are needed to create a building of outstanding quality in this very special location,” commented Fondation Beyeler’s Director, Sam Keller, on the decision.
The full shortlist for the competition was as follows:
- Sou Fujimoto Architects (Japan)
- Junya Ishigami + Associates (Japan)
- Christian Kerez Zürich AG (Switzerland)
- Made In Architects (Switzerland)
- Studio Märkli (Switzerland)
- Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co., Ltd (Japan)
- Smiljan Radic (Chile)
- Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA (Japan)
- Souto Moura – Arquitectos SA (Portugal)
- Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (United States)
- Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner (Switzerland)
The new building extension will be constructed on land previously off-limits to the public, opening up new areas of the park to Beyeler Foundation visitors. The project will be privately financed and is expected to cost CHF 80 million (~$80,000,000 USD), of which CHF 50 million has already been confirmed.
Images of the winning design will be released in late autumn/winter as Zumthor’s design is further developed.
Correction update: The converted estimated cost of construction was previously listed incorrectly – the estimated cost is $80,000,000 USD, not $8,000,000 USD.
News via Beyeler Foundation.
