Iconic Architecture for Basel’s Museums

In 1849, the neoclassical building by Melchior Berri in Basel’s Augustinergasse was opened for the local university and for the city’s public historic collections. It is considered to be Switzerland’s first museum building and is now a national monument. Museums are very special public places, not only attracting local and foreign visitors, but also containing and safeguarding valuable collections and cultural items of all kinds. They also provide work for a large number of people. 

Given the variety of tasks they are called on to fulfil, museums require outstanding architecture. Basel not only enjoys an international reputation as a museum city, but also boasts a large number of architecturally noteworthy museum edifices. And this tradition is set to continue, given the host of recently completed, ongoing or planned architectural projects.  At St. Johann station, for example, new premises for Naturhistorisches Museum Basel and Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt are being constructed by the firm EM2N Architekten. The extension of Kunstmuseum Basel by Christ & Gantenbein and the renewal of the Museum der Kulturen building by Herzog & de Meuron promise to further enrich the city centre. In Riehen, Peter Zumthor is working on additions to Fondation Beyeler, and the new Kunsthaus Baselland by Buchner Bründler was recently opened at ‘Dreispitz’. These are just some examples of the dynamic development of the Basel museum landscape and the importance attached to the associated architecture. All these projects live up to the high quality standards – already applied at the onset by Melchior Berri – for places where people and their cultural goods come together.