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Even in todays greatly changedurban landscape, theKppersmhle in Duisburg is stilla striking city landmark. Builtbetween 1908 and 1916 by theKiefer Brothers and JosephWeiss, the imposing brick warehouse has a strongmonumental quality, reinforcedby its heroic scale and robustmateriality. It is the mosthistorically significant structurein Duisburgs inner harbour, anarea currently being rejuvenatedto a masterplan by NormanFoster. A key aspect of themasterplan strategy involvesfinding new uses for industrialantiquities such as theK p p e r s m h l e .

Herzog and de Meuron wereasked to convert theKppersmhle to house Hans

Grothes collection of postwarGerman art, an importantassembly that includes works byPolke, Baselitz and Kiefer amongothers. The conversion of aredundant industrial buildinginto a modern art museum hasclear paral lels with Herzog & deMeurons project for the newTate Gallery in London, butthere are also importantdifferences. In the case of theTate, only the external brick

carapace of Gilbert Scottspower station has beenpreserved, whereas most of theKppersmhles load-bearingstructure could be fruitfullyincorporated into the buildings

renovation (although some of the existing floors wereremoved to accommodate thelarger 5m high galleries).

Three floors of exhibitionspaces are linked by a new stairtower, placed to the rear of themain warehouse block. The stark lines of the tower echo theKppersmhles muscular,industrial functionalism. Narrowstrips of vertical glazing arecrisply incised into the towersterracotta coloured concreteflanks. Inside, a sinuous stairwinds up to t he galleries,creating a logical and leisurelypromenade through the building.The warmth of the terracottawalls and the organicsensuousness of the stair givethe confined space a remarkablewomb-like quality. The

proportions of the s tair treadsare intended to slow downprogress slightly, so that visitorsproceed through the building ata pace conducive to theheightened contemplation of art.

Galleries are calm andintrospective, with simple whitewalls and cool stone floors.Some daylight is admittedthrough a handful of carefullypositioned glazed strips whichsupplement levels of

predominantly artificialillumination. The narrowopenings were tested on modelsand evolved from an earlierproject for Swiss artist RmyZauggs studio in Mulhouse.

I N D U S T R I AL I C O N

The Kppersmhle, an industrial relic in Duisburgs

harbour area, has been inventively transformed tohouse a major collection of German modern art.

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A R T M U S E U M , D U I S B UG E R M A N YAR C H I T E C TH E R Z O G & D E ME U R O

1The imposing bulk of the oldKppersmhle looms over Dinner harbour.2Main entrance sliced into thebrick flanks. Set against theoriginal building, the new inthave a surprising intensity.3Harbour elevation, with newl

win dows ov er so me gall ery s4New stair tower links exhibit

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Existing windows in thethe warehouse housing tgalleries have been sealeusing bricks of the sameand texture of the originthese have been scrupulcleaned and repaired. Thmuting of the facade heigthe buildings monolithicelemental character andthe new elements (suchlong window slits and anexquisite, copper-clad dsingular and surprising in

Herzog & de Meuronsstrategy of interventionrenewal seeks to respecthe building and its contThe Grothe Collection hhandsome new home witechnical and cultural amof a modern art museumKppersmhle has acquidynamic new lease of life

revived building also mak contribution to Duisbururban regeneration. As iindustrial relics are gradreclaimed for new uses,heart of the city grows s

A r c h i t e c tHerzog & de Meuron, Basle, SwitProject team

Jrge n Joh ner, Katsum i Darb ellayLukas Kupfer, Mario Meier, AstriSimon SmacznyStructural engineersOve Arup & PartnersIngenieurbro Lewenton WernerMechanical and engineer Ingenieurgesellschaft Kruck P h o t o g r a p h sChristian Richters

A R T M U S E U M , D U I S B UG E R M A N YAR C H I T E C TH E R Z O G & D E M E U R O

ground floor plan (scale approx 1:1000)

first floor plan

longitudinal section

cross section

a e n t r a n c eb r e c e p t i o nc loading dock/liftd s t o r ee gallery spacef stair tower

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5The sensuous, womb-like interior of the stair tower.6One of the larger, double-heightexhibition spaces.7Galleries are calm and introspective,

wit h whit e wal ls a nd sto ne flo ors.

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