Kunsthaus Zürich

Kunsthaus Zürich
Location Zürich, Switzerland
Director Christoph Becker
Website http://www.kunsthaus.ch

The Kunsthaus Zürich is an art museum in the Swiss city of Zürich. It houses one of the most important art collections in Switzerland,[1] assembled over the years by the local art association called Zürcher Kunstgesellschaft. The collection spans from the Middle Ages to contemporary art, with an emphasis on Swiss art.

Architecture

The museum was drawn-up by architects Karl Moser and Robert Curjel, and opened in 1910. Particularly notable are the several preserved Moser interiors in the original section of the museum, decorated in masterful Neo-Grec version of Secession style. The bas-reliefs on the facade are by Moser's longtime collaborator Oskar Kiefer. The original museum building was extended in 1925, 1958 and 1976.[2]

The architectural competition for a $230 million extension was won by London-based David Chipperfield. His design is a massive rectangular sandstone-covered building. The extension will add 5,040 square meters of galleries, increasing display space by 78%. The Kunsthaus will become the largest Swiss art museum, overtaking Basel. The two upper floors will be for art, with facilities at ground level and a basement link under the street to the original museum across the street in Heimplatz.[3]

Lydia Escher (1858–1891), being a prominent Zürich patron of the arts, was honored by the Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster association on the occasion of her 150th anniversary by a commemorative plaque, located at the front of the building.[4] The place was baptized on 20 August 2008 by the city of Zürich as Lydia Welti-Escher Hof.[5]

Collection

The museum's collection includes major works by artists including Claude Monet (several works including an enormous water lily painting), Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Jacques Lipchitz and the Swiss Alberto Giacometti. Other Swiss artists such as Johann Heinrich Füssli, Ferdinand Hodler or from recent times, Pipilotti Rist and Peter Fischli are also represented. Furthermore, works from Vincent van Gogh, Édouard Manet, Henri Matisse and René Magritte are to be found.

On Wednesday admission to the Collection is free of charge for all visitors.[6]

Management

The Kunsthaus is run by the Kunstgesellschaft foundation. In 2013, the museum had 315,000 visitors.[7] In a press release (dating January 12, 2017) the institution declared to have reached a record of 320'000 visitors in 2016.[8]

Public transport

The gallery is served by a stop on the Zürich tram system, also known as Kunsthaus. This is located on Pfauenplatz, between the museum building and the Schauspielhaus Zürich.

References

  1. ↑ The Telegraph, The Director's Guide: Kunsthaus Zurich, by John O'Ceallaigh, June 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ Martin Bailey (June 20, 2014), A tale of two extensions Archived 2014-06-25 at the Wayback Machine. The Art Newspaper.
  3. ↑ Martin Bailey (June 20, 2014), A tale of two extensions Archived 2014-06-25 at the Wayback Machine. The Art Newspaper.
  4. ↑ "Ehrung der Kunstmäzenin Lydia Welti-Escher (press release)" (PDF) (in German). Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  5. ↑ Stadtrat von Zürich (2008-08-20). "Strassenbenennungskommission; Benennung von «Lydia-Welti-Escher-Hof» (press release)" (in German). Stadt Zürich. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  6. ↑ http://www.kunsthaus.ch/en/information/admission-prices/collection/
  7. ↑ Martin Bailey (June 20, 2014), A tale of two extensions Archived 2014-06-25 at the Wayback Machine. The Art Newspaper.
  8. ↑ Kunsthaus Press Release

Coordinates: 47°22′13″N 8°32′53″E / 47.37028°N 8.54806°E / 47.37028; 8.54806

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