Dezeen Magazine

MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron

Herzog & de Meuron creates brick extension to its MKM Museum Küppersmühle

Swiss architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron has created an extension to the dockside MKM Museum Küppersmühle in Duisburg, Germany.

The brick extension adds an additional 2,500 square metres of exhibition space to the MKM Museum Küppersmühle, which is located in a historic grain mill that was originally converted into a museum by Herzog & de Meuron in 1999.

Extension to MKM Museum Küppersmühle
Herzog & de Meuron has added an extension to MKM Museum Küppersmühle

Set on the dockside, the four-storey extension was informed by the museum's existing 19th-century buildings that line the waterfront.

"The extension accords with the sequence of impressive historical brick structures lining the dockside," said Herzog & de Meuron.

"Consequently, the new structure completes the existing museum and harbour basin in a visually appropriate way, and forms a suitable conclusion to the row of buildings along the harbour basin. The new project constitutes an integrating and complementary architecture."

Bridges across a silo tower
Two bridges connect the extension with the original museum

The extension contains additional gallery space for the museum, which displays an extensive collection of German and European post-war art.

In total, 35 brightly lit gallery spaces have been created over the four stories.

"Bricks on the outside, white cube on the inside," said the studio.

"The MKM extension combines industrial culture with contemporary museum architecture."

Silos with MKM Museum Küppersmühle
The silos are visible in some of the gallery spaces

The extension stands alongside a silo tower and its upper floors are connected to the museum's original building by a series of bridges that pass through the silos.

According to the studio, the silos have been restored as "industrial monuments". They are topped with a viewing gallery, which will be open to the public when the weather allows.

Extension to MKM Museum Küppersmühle
The extension contains multiple white box galleries

Swiss studio Herzog de Meuron was established in 1978 by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron.

It has created numerous cultural buildings around the world including the Tate Modern in London, which occupies a converted power station. The firm added a brick extension to the building in 2016.

Staircase by Herzog & de Meuron
A stair connects the museum extension's four floors

Other recent projects by the studio include a cylindrical skyscraper in London and a wedge-shaped art institute in Seoul.

More images and plans

MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
Site plan
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
Ground floor plan
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
First floor plan
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
Fourth floor plan
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
Section
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron
MKM Museum Küppersmühle extension by Herzog & de Meuron