LITERATURE

CASE STUDY
HISTORISCHES MUSEUM,
BERN, SWITZERLAND
ABOUT THE SITE FOR WHOM WAS IT DONE?

SITE IMAGES WHEN WAS IT DONE?

EXTENSION SITE HOW WAS IT DONE?

ABOUT THE BUILDING PLAN, SECTION

WHAT WAS DONE? VIEWS

WHERE WAS IT DONE?

CONTENT
ABOUT
THE SITE
•The Bernisches Historisches Museum is one of
Switzerland’s most important history museums.
•The main building was built between 1892
and 1894 to the designs by Andre Lambert.
•On one hand the Neuchâtel architect was
inspired by 15th- and 16th-century
constructions, on the other hand he was
modelling his designs on historic castles.
SITE IMAGES

THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EXISTING SITE IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE SITE IN 1889

1895
EXTENSION SITE
KUBUS

The kubus complex was erected in the period of 2006 to

2009.
The building was designed by the architectural firm MLZD
The building contains storage rooms, a large-scale exhibition
hall and offices.
On its southern side it is encased in an artistically designed
layer of concrete with a crystalline texture. Its northern
façade is of solid glass and reflects the castle-like annex
located opposite it.
EXTENSION SITE
ABOUT THE BUILDING
BUILT UP AREA: 7500 SQ.M
The extension is designed as a publicly accessible base, from
which a vertical volume develops.

The structure is interlocked within the ensemble and

connected to the urban space via the sequence of the three
different outdoor spaces 'garden', 'square' and 'staircase’.

In terms of its shape and height, the latter can be read as a

logical continuation of the existing wings of the museum.
WHAT WAS DONE?
The project is composed of two distinct elements

A 1000m2 temporary exhibition hall located beneath a new

civic square and a monolithic six storey block along the
southern side of the site that houses the Bern city archives,
offices and a library.

In the part under the square, the exhibition space is a double

high ‘black box’ space suitable for a range of different visiting
exhibitions.
WHAT WAS DONE?
In close proximity, below the exhibition space, there are two
levels for the storage of artifacts in secure climate controlled
conditions.

The second element has two very different faces.

Towards the square

the building presents a transparent orthogonal modernist
curtain wall.

The activities within the building are clearly visible. In

contrast the south facade rises up - a folded cliff of cast
WHERE WAS IT DONE?
The extension building is built in the eastern side of the old
building.

The building is built adjacent to the existing museum such

that the the reflection of the museum can be seen in the
extension building.
FOR WHOM WAS IT DONE?
In the year 2005, a temporary exhibition was held for paying
homage to Albert Einstein.

As bern was the place where he studied and came up with

the theory of relativity, a new wing was built for the museum
of Einstein.
WHEN WAS IT DONE?
The design of the building was selected in competition which
was held in the year 2001.

The MLDZ architectural company of Switzerland won the first

prize and their design was initiated.

The planning of the building was done from 2003 – 2005

The construction was done in 2006- 2009

HOW WAS IT DONE?
The northern facade of the building consist of solid glass and
reflects the castle like museum opposite to it.

The distance between the new and old building makes a

square between them which connencts two park areas in
front of them.

The southern side of the building is a folded cliff of

castconcrete, punctured by small random openings and
indentations.

This concrete skin wraps around the building embracing and

sheltering its contents.
HOW WAS IT DONE?
Behind the south wall, in a vertical slot, a triple height
staircase connects the floorplates.

Outside a sweep of board steps rise up to the square in front

of the glazed north facade.
PLAN
SECTION
VIEWS
VIEWS
VIEWS
VIEWS
 GROUP

D.DURAI KARTHIKEYAN
MUGUNTHAN
GUNASEELAN S
DRISHYA SUDEEP