schneider + schumacher: stadel museum extension, frankfurt

schneider + schumacher: stadel museum extension, frankfurt image © norbert miguletz all images courtesy of schneider + schumacher

winning a competition in 2007, german practice schneider + schumacher has completed the 3,000 square meter ‘extension to the städel museum’ in frankfurt. taking up the garden of the original museum built in 1878, the addition is the first to be located entirely under ground. in the concrete roof covering the space, 195 skylights dot the surface ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 meters in diameter as they reach the spherical protrusion in the center of the site.

exterior courtyard checkered in circular skylights image © norbert miguletz

from the exterior, a gradient grid of skylights in a grass field allows users to walk on a unique garden; from the interior, a matrix of roof openings with integrated shading systems will bring in plenty of indirect sunlight to illuminate the artwork, with the ability to blackout the glazing entirely. a new set of storage and technical functions are accompanied by the exhibit halls ranging in height from six to eight meters. only 12 columns support the pre-stressed canopy freeing up the space for large flexible spans. geothermal heat pumps beneath the structure help to maintain comfortable temperatures, using the earth’s mass as an effective insulator. a ventilation system will cool the exhibit spaces in the summer as well as humidify or dehumidify them.

garden re-invented with a round protrusion image © norbert miguletz

interior stairs leading to the extension image © norbert miguletz

stair case image © norbert miguletz

stair entry image © norbert miguletz

grid-like  skylights bring natural laight into the stark white interior image © norbert miguletz

gallery space images © norbert miguletz

images © norbert miguletz

moveable screens display 2D work image © norbert miguletz

courtyard at night image © norbert miguletz

site plan

design of the skylights

section

section perspective

model image © frank hellwig

skylight design model image © christoph bonke

project info:

client: städelsches kunstinstitut project management: dres & sommer gmbh frankfurt architecture: schneider+schumacher architects construction management: b+g ingenieure / bollinger und grohmann gmbh building services: ipb ingenieurgesellschaft für energie- & gebäudetechnik (extension), ibo ingenieurbüro dieter bohlmann (original building) ibfr ingenieurbüro freudl & ruth gmbh & co. kg (expansion/original building) lighting design: lkl – licht kunst licht ag grounds: keller + keller landschaftsarchitekten gartenarchitekten bdla structural fire protection: sachverständigenbüro für vorbeugenden brandschutz hilla soil survey: bfm baugrundinstitut franke-meißner und partner gmbh survey of land: grandjean & kollegen öbvi structural physics: tohr bauphysik gmbh & co. kg surveying: grandjean & kollegen öbvi soil expertise: bfm baugrundinstitut franke-meißner und partner gmbh health and safety: gefas – gesellschaft für arbeitssicherheit mbh expert’s survey: tüv rheinland structural analysis: ingenieursozietät deutsch-buckert-thomas dbt legal advice: mek rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbh safety advice: ifas sachverständigen- und planungsbüro main trades sheeting and bracing, earthworks, water retention measures: arge bauer spezialtiefbau gmbh, müller erdbau gmbh shell of building: ed. züblin ag direktion frankfurt metal building works (oberlichter): seele sedak gmbh & co. kg exhibition walls: baumgärtner gmbh building services: yit germany gmbh, spinnler gmbh lightning: zumtobel licht gmbh security services: bosch sicherheitssysteme gmbh grounds: august fichter gmbh gfa: extension 4,151 m²/ total 24,726 m² gross volume: extension 27,568 m³ / total 115,535m³ dimensions: length: 75.77 m (incl. corridor & ancillary rooms); exhibition halls alone 55.00 m breadth: 52.60 m (incl. corridor); exhibition halls alone 47.60 m height: 6.00 m to 8.20m performance stage: 1-9 planning period: 03/2008 – 12/2009 construction phase: 09/2009 – 02/2012