Frankfurt's Städel Museum Celebrates Opening of New, Underground Extension
The opening of the spectacular new wing of Frankfurt's Städel Museum marks a major milestone in the nearly 200-year-old museum's history. The gleaming extension, at 3,000 square meters, offers ample space for around 300 works of art in the museum's contemporary collection. The 195 "porthole" windows meld into the museum's garden and allow natural light to illuminate the art below. The new wing promises to increase Frankfurt's heft on the international contemporary art scene.
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The construction site of the Städel Museum extension building in November 2010. Designed by Frankfurt architects schneider+schumacher, the underground gallery cost 52 million euros. (© picture alliance / dpa) -
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Workers stand inside the partially completed structure in March 2011. (© picture alliance / dpa) -
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A computer simulation of the interior of the new wing of the Städel Museum, the grand opening of which takes place February 25 and 26 with free entrance for all. (© picture alliance / dpa) -
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Frankfurt architects Michael Schumacher (left) and Till Schneider designed the underground extension with 195 "portholes" affording natural light. (© picture-alliance / dpa) -
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Martin Engler, chief curator of the Städel Museum, on the steps leading to the new wing of the Städel Museum, founded 1815 in the will of the businessman, banker and collector Johann Friedrich Städel. (© picture alliance / dpa) -
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View of the garden/roof of the new extension with the 195 porthole windows of special glass, with the "old" Städel Museum in the background. (© picture alliance / dpa) -
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First visitors to the new extension on February 22, 2012, seen from the installation "Wind" by artist Isa Genzken. (© picture alliance / dpa) -
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A sculpture by the artist Tobias Rehberger in the new wing of the Städel. (© picture alliance / dpa)
