The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, Switzerland, outside of Basel, has selected the 2009 Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor’s proposal for its extension building in the Iselin-Weber Park, the museum announced yesterday (15 September). According to a statement issued by the Beyeler, the international board unanimously chose the project by Zumthor, who has designed other museums including the Kunsthaus Bregenz, the Kolumba Kunstmuseum in Cologne and the forthcoming $600m expansion project of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The Fondation Beyeler has outgrown its original Renzo Piano-designed building, having doubled its collection and increased its annual number of temporary exhibitions since opening in 1997. The privately-funded expansion project—which has already reached CHF 50m in pledges—has an estimated budget of CHF 80m.
Basel-born Zumthor says in a statement that it is “heartwarming to be able to design a major building” in his hometown. The final design by Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner is expected to be unveiled in the late autumn or winter.
