Extension of the Beyeler Foundation

DATE

05.10.2026

The extension of the Beyeler Foundation in Riehen represents a remarkable intervention where contemporary architecture dialogues in perfect harmony with the natural landscape and international art.

Ernst Beyeler, together with his wife Hildy, was an influential Swiss art dealer and collector whose legacy transformed the 20th-century European cultural landscape. With an extraordinary sensibility for selecting masterpieces by artists such as Picasso, Monet, or Cézanne, Beyeler conceived the idea of creating an institution where art could be contemplated in an open, luminous environment free from the rigidities of the traditional museum, laying the groundwork for the acclaimed foundation in Riehen.

The extension project, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Peter Zumthor, seeks to extend the museum’s presence into the adjacent Boveri Park. Rather than proposing a single monumental building, the design presents a group of free-standing, carefully articulated structures that integrate into the botanical landscape without disrupting the peaceful, residential scale of the area.

Standing out within this ensemble is the new exhibition building, a restrained and poetic volume projected in exposed concrete crafted with local aggregates. The structure is designed to maximize the entry of controlled natural light and create galleries with a contemplative atmosphere, optimizing the visual connection between the exhibited canvases, the interior space, and the surrounding greenery.

The intervention is completed with a pavilion dedicated to events and educational activities, as well as the restoration of the park’s historical House to accommodate administrative services. With this project, the Beyeler Foundation reaffirms its commitment to offering a museum experience where Zumthor’s architecture and nature serve as a living frame for the appreciation of art.