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2015–

Natural History Museum of Bavaria, Munich Read more

From the outside, the new building blends in with the palace ensemble. In the museum courtyard, it takes advantage of the greater freedom of design.

One of the most visited museums of Bavaria will be redesigned and expanded in the north wing of the Nymphenburg Palace. The extension of the Naturkundemuseum Bayern will replace an institute building from the 1970s, which in itself is not a protected historical landmark. In addition to the sensitive handling of the historic site, the building’s importance and the expected visitor attendance require a visible address and a strong identity of the museum.
These demands are met by converting the building’s courtyard into the actual address of the museum and indicating the museum with two archways on either side. To visitors coming from the city and the palace garden the eastern archway signals the entrance of the museum. The western archway opens the palace estate towards the botanical garden as an impetus for a stronger connection of the two compounds. An additional entrance from the neighboring orangery emphasizes the central access of the courtyards, which is characteristic of the palace estate.
The extension will be fitted into the contour of the previous building. With its storey-wise zoned facades and red tiled roofs, the new building blends in with the castle. Towards the courtyard the museum benefits of the greater freedom of design; the northern wing of the building is adjusted in its depth to the use as a museum, appearing to visitors with a long glazed façade and incorporating the courtyard as a space for exhibition, recreation and activity. Here the building presents itself clearly as the modern, innovative museum that it is with a worldwide renowned collection to show. Four curved staircases structure the free-flowing interior space and lead visitors intuitively into all areas of the museum.

Projektdetails
Competition 1st Prize, 2014
Client Free State of Bavaria, represented by the State Building Authority Munich
Planning started 2015
Total floor area 18,000 sqm

Competition
Project Management: Petra Wäldle, Bettina Schriewer
Team: Simon Banakar, Roberto Zitelli, Constanze Knoll, David Czepek, Lucía Martínez Estefanía, Lena Wild, Valentin Spaeth

Planning and Realization
Project Coordination: Per Pedersen
Project Management: Johannes Pape
Team: Bettina Schriewer, Carolin Kuhn, Maria Josa Soler, Jacob Steinfelder, Roberto Zitelli, Johannes Drechsler, Florian Nusser, Simon Banakar, Sandra Herzog, Marion Rehn, Lara Metell, Franziska Ebeler, Eriona Zeneli-Schott

Landcape architecture: Atelier Loidl, Berlin