We can't believe it's been ten years since the opening of Peter Zumthor's stunning Kunsthaus in the Austrian town of Bregenz. A vision of frosted glass and steel located by Lake Constance, the building continues to draw visitors away from the usual art capitals and looks every inch as good as when it first opened. Thanks to the glass façade, the concrete interior of the building is lit by natural light, giving the building an atmosphere that is delicate and textural all at once.
Click here to view images of the gallery.
The gallery is one of our favourites in the world, for the simple reason that it just does things a little differently. From holding an architecture competition for the design of the building (Swiss architect Zumthor won first prize back in 1989), to the beautifully designed programme booklets and exhibition postcards that accompany each exhibition, there is no other art institution quite like the KUB.
Click here to view images of the brochures.
Over the years, the Kunsthaus Bregenz has had the privilege of playing host to some of the most iconic art pieces of the 20th century, including entire series of work specially created to be exhibited within the building. Artists are encouraged to fully utilize the gallery’s unique structure and square footage, and the dramatic all-concrete space has brought names like Roy Lichtenstein, Mariko Mori, Jeff Koons and Cindy Sherman to Bregenz. The glass shell of the building has also been used as an exhibition medium, with light installations by Ruth Schnell, Michael Craig-Martin and Jean-Marc Bustamante visible miles away from the lakefront.
For its 10th anniversary, the contemporary art gallery celebrated by holding an open house on 7th July 2007. Visitors were allowed to join a free hourly tour of its ‘Mythos’ exhibition, which features the work of Cy Twombly, Matthew Barney, Douglas Gordon and Josephy Beuys. A 64-page commemorative magazine filled with anecdotes and interviews from artists, gallerists and politicians was also distributed in the local Vorarlberger Nachrichten newspaper on 6th July.
In a romantic gesture, the KUB has dedicated the last months of 2007 to a retrospective of Peter Zumthor’s work that delves into his design process, philosophies and models. The gallery will also screen films prepared with Zumthor of twelve of his projects, including the Therme Vals hotel and spa and the to-be-completed Kolumba art museum in Cologne.
Ten years to the day, we’d like to wish the KUB a very happy birthday. Here’s to another ten more.
INFORMATION
- Website
- http://www.kunsthaus-bregenz.at/
- Telephone
- 43.55 7448 5940
- Address
- Kunsthaus Bregenz
Karl Tizian Platz
A-6900 Bregenz
