Christ & Gantenbein unveiled its new wing for the National Museum Zurich. The "museum factory" is an angular and concrete add on that will open to the public in July.
The addition will provide space for galleries, an auditorium and a library.
The 80-centimetre-thick concrete walls and look was selected by Christ & Gantenbein to stand in contrast to the historical stone structure from the late 19th century, designed by Gustav Gull.
"The expressive folds in the rooftops can be understood as a contemporary interpretation of Gull's articulated historicism," added the firm. "The new is thus inconceivable without the old, but is nonetheless unmistakably modern."
"Concrete dominates in the interior of the new museum," said the architects. "Combined with the technical elements purposely left exposed on the ceilings, this creates an almost industrial-like atmosphere that is robust, spacious and open to a variety of forms of exhibition and presentation."
"The new spaces at the National Museum Zurich are conceived as museum factory halls – conservational and at the same time experimental," added the team.
Photography is by Roman Keller.