The Fondation Beyeler may construct a new building to complement its museum in Riehen. In a statement on Thursday, the foundation revealed that it has the opportunity to acquire a 9,500 square meter plot of land on favorable conditions.
However, the building project is not yet fully confirmed. The acquisition of the land is dependent on a number of conditions being met. The foundation must preserve a nearby park. A building permit has also yet to be granted. In addition, question marks still remain over how the approximately 50 million franc ($53.8 million) project would be funded.
In a telephone conversation, a press representative told artnet News that the Fondation Beyeler only distributed information about the extension locally because the project is still very much in its preliminary phases.
If the proposed extension does go ahead, it will be significantly smaller than the existing Renzo Piano designed building. Although, the statement indicates that the new building would be integrated into the site. The new exhibition halls would house a multifunctional space for a variety of different works.
The foundation has also hinted that it plans an architectural competition to attract the world’s best architects to design the proposed extension.
The Fondation Beyeler welcomed 349,000 visitors in 2014, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to 2013. The foundation is one of Switzerland’s most popular museums.