Significance for canton and city
By renovating and renewing the museum, Canton Bern is securing the Kunstmuseum for future generations. The city has the opportunity to better connect the urban space with the museum and thus upgrade the entire upper part of the Old City.
The renewal will provide the canton with contemporary and sustainable infrastructure for a cultural institution of national significance: the Kunstmuseum can therefore continue to fulfil its mandate of protecting, caring for and sharing the first-rate cultural assets entrusted to it, offering activities to school classes from the entire canton, loaning pictures to other cultural centres in the canton and help with questions of provenance research questions for other collections in the canton. The national and international appeal of Kunstmuseum Bern is preserved and operation for subsequent generations is secured.
“The residents of Canton Bern know that Kunstmuseum Bern is a very important cultural institution in the canton. Now the museum will be given the modern infrastructure it so urgently needs to be able to properly display and convey these artistic treasures.”
Benjamin Marti, Member of the Cantonal Parliament, Canton Bern
The City of Bern, both in its role as a capital city and as the canton’s main city, benefits in several ways from the renewed Kunstmuseum. The redesign of Hodlerstrasse, which has been under discussion for many years, and the upgrading of Bären- and Waisenhaus squares can be coordinated with the renovation of the museum. This offers the opportunity to connect the urban space with the new Kunstmuseum, improving the importance and appeal of the entire upper part of the Old City.
Added to this are the benefits for the hotel, catering and retail industries. The new building will make it possible to offer more attractive services and art experiences, and that will provide an opportunity to lastingly increase visitor numbers. Studies show that the cultural audience generally attaches great importance not only to the cultural offering but also the catering options. A soon-to-be-completed study by the Tourism Research Centre at the University of Bern shows that the total annual gross value of the Kunstmuseum Bern in the Canton of Bern amounts to around CHF 10.5 million. With 100,000 visitors a year, that is around CHF 100 per admission.
“Kunstmuseum Bern already has huge international appeal. The planned new building will honour the distinctive and unique appearance of the 155-year-old Stettler Building, thus retaining it for visitors. The area of the new building as set out in the winning project perfectly complements the space and makes it possible to showcase contemporary art even more effectively. This new building will make the Kunstmuseum even more appealing and Bern even more attractive.”
Alfons Bichsel, Member of the Cantonal Parliament
A lively space in the heart of the city
The expansion of the museum includes upgrading Hodlerstrasse. The street will feature paving and a row of trees, giving it a completely new look. Visually, Hodlerstrasse will follow on from the look found at the paved Bärenplatz and Waisenhaus squares in future. The amount of road surface and number of parking spaces will be reduced, the Metro-Parking exit will be moved, and a new traffic regime will be introduced.
This opens up an attractive, vibrant space in the middle of the city that is accessible to the general public and where people feel safe. The Kunstmuseum and the PROGR or “Turnhalle” can open up outwards. Cooperative arrangements for temporary uses also exist with other cultural institutions. Restaurants on Hodlerstrasse are also interested.
“The long-awaited expansion of the museum can finally be realised. The new building will eliminate weak points: even large pieces of contemporary art can be exhibited, and accessibility will be improved. But there will be major improvements to the exterior space, too: the museum is opening up and will connect the city to the area around the Aare. The museum will become an inviting place for all, the interior and exterior will be linked, art will become even more accessible – I am really looking forward to it!”
Alec von Graffenried, Mayor of the City of Bern
To achieve the desired traffic calming, the city wants to use the time until the realisation of the new Kunstmuseum building to find a solution that best meets all interests by means of test planning. As a first step in this ‘learning planning’, a meeting zone is to be set up, selectively furnished and evaluated in front of the Kunstmuseum over the coming months. All those involved hope that this will provide important insights for the final solution to be implemented.
“We will be getting contemporary exhibition rooms for art and a spacious outdoor area where people can spend time. An art mile from Hodlerstrasse to Waisenhausplatz square; a place for everyone to enjoy a stroll.”
Marieke Kruit, Member of the Executive Council of the City of Bern