Architect presents plans for new Paul Klee Centre
Plans have been unveiled for one of the most prestigious architectural projects in the Swiss capital Berne in recent years: The Paul Klee Centre, which will be home to the world's biggest collection of the Swiss-born artist's works.
Plans have been unveiled for one of the most prestigious architectural projects in the Swiss capital Berne in recent years: The Paul Klee Centre, which will be home to the world’s biggest collection of the Swiss-born artist’s works.
The centre will be on the outskirts of the city where he was born in 1879. The originality of the draft plans should have surprised no one as they were drawn up by one of Europe’s leading architects, Renzo Piano. His design of the Beyeler Foundation’s art museum near Basel was already widely acclaimed just over two years ago.
The centre will have a smooth wooden roof with what looks like three small hills. The Klee collection will be under one, a second is for temporary exhibitions and the third for conferences and research work.
The Klee family and the Paul Klee Foundation have offered to make their works by the artist available to the centre as donations or permanent loans.
Klee’s grandson Alexander, who was at the unveiling ceremony, said the plans were “the best project we could have,” and that the building and its topographical surroundings would be a “perfect marriage”.
The centre will be on gently undulating land, most of which was donated by a retired Swiss surgeon, Professor Maurice Müller and his wife Martha, who are also making a substantial financial contribution.
Müller says he is particularly impressed by the way the architect had taken a deep look into the work of the artist and gleaned ideas from that look.
Piano is happy to acknowledge that the paintings of Klee inspired his plans: “I believe Paul Klee is one of the most important artists of this century”.
Easily accessible by public and private transport, the centre location has views of the city and the Bernese Oberland region.
From staff member Richard Dawson.
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