Reasons for the renewal 

Thanks to its collections and exhibitions, the Kunstmuseum Bern enjoys a great response from the public and media and is recognised both nationally and internationally as an important place for art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum welcomes 100,000 visitors a year. What the Kunstmuseum lacks is a modern, sustainable infrastructure. 

From building services to the HVAC system, fire protection system and seismic retrofitting up to and including cultural heritage protection and art deliveries, the current building complex consisting of the Stettler Building from 1879 and the 1984 extension no longer complies with modern standards. In certain areas, operation is only possible with special permits. 

How can the Kunstmuseum meet the demands of professional museum operations in future? This has been discussed extensively. A feasibility study in 2018 revealed a new perspective: a convincing solution for the future requires the expansion of the perimeter: Stettlerbau, Atelier 5 building and inclusion of the property at Hodlerstrasse 6. At the same time, the opportunity to upgrade the surrounding area should be seized. The renewal project not only allows for new exhibition possibilities, but also significantly optimises and simplifies art and goods logistics. Operations will become markedly more efficient and operating costs will remain stable despite the larger exhibition space. 

The neighbouring property at Hodlerstrasse 6 forms a key element of the project: its inclusion will give the Kunstmuseum a new administrative building and bistro in the immediate vicinity, meaning there will be no need to build any additional expensive office spaces in the new building.