Kunsthaus Zürich doubles its space with David Chipperfield extension

The Kunsthaus Zürich will become Switzerland's largest art museum when its new extension by David Chipperfield opens on October 9-10, 2021. Before that, from April 23 to May 24, the empty space hosts 'The Sense of Things', an acoustic installation by American choreographer William Forsythe, curated by Mirjam Varadinis. The work uses bells from deconsecrated church towers to create a contrapuntal composition activated by visitors' movements. The extension was delivered on December 11, 2020, after twelve years of planning, costing 206 million Swiss francs (half private, half public). It connects to the historic 1910 building via a 70-meter underground gallery. The museum expects 380,000–400,000 annual visitors. The new spaces will display 20% of the collection—double the current capacity—focused on four areas: post-1960s collections, the Emil Bührle Collection, temporary exhibitions, and a central hall. The Bührle Collection of 150 works, including masterpieces by Monet, Cézanne, and van Gogh, moves from its private villa. The historic building gains more space for Old Masters and Swiss artists like Ferdinand Hodler and Alberto Giacometti. Interior materials include exposed concrete, oak, white marble, and brass. The facade uses Jurassic limestone. A free-access art garden sits north of the building. Pipilotti Rist's 'Tactile Lights' installation on Heimplatz projects color spots from October to March, complementing her 2016 work on the historic building's roof glazing.