Architectural Competition for the New Kunstmuseum Bern: 3rd Prize for EM2N and LAND
In 2023, the city of Bern initiated an ambitious international architectural competition for the new Kunstmuseum Bern. Our proposal, created in collaboration with the architectural office EM2N from Zurich, was awarded 3rd prize.
In 2023, the city of Bern initiated an ambitious international architectural competition for the new Kunstmuseum Bern. The competition aimed to reshape the museum and its surrounding urban landscape and sought proposals that would seamlessly integrate art, nature, and public life.
We proudly announce that our proposal, created in collaboration with the architectural office EM2N from Zurich, was awarded 3rd prize. Our design reimagined the Kunstmuseum not just as a building but as an extension of the public space within Bern. The museum’s interior was conceptualized as an “urban episode,” connecting the city’s public spaces with the natural beauty of the surrounding “borrowed landscapes.”
Proposal for the New Kunstmuseum Bern with EM2N architects. Visual by Filippo Bolognese Images
As visitors explore Bern, the museum culminates their journey with a stunning view of the riverside forest along the River Aar, establishing a solid sense of place and preserving the city’s identity. This vision aligns with Bern’s ongoing efforts to remodel the Upper Old Town and enhance Hodlerstrasse.
Congratulations to Schmidlin Architekten on winning the competition. Their proposal priotized the public space, digging deeper for the addition of a basement floor and keeping more space free on the surface providing the Kunstmuseum Bern an attractive and inviting address. All 39 entries, including our third-prize-winning proposal, are on display at the Kunstmuseum Bern until November 24th.
