The 4,000 m2 purist concrete cube is located in the centre of Chur opposite Villa Planta, the splendidly ornamental 18th-century home to the original art museum. The extension by Barcelona-based practice Barozzi Veiga from Barcelona is a contemporary take on the Palladian style of its predecessor. But instead of pomp, radical reduction and repetition reign supreme: the façade’s slick inset relief panels comprise 4,600 square blocks of moulded concrete. It’s Palladian for purits, so to speak. But the pared-down reimagining is not universally welcomed in Chur. Not that the new architectural showpiece cares much, because, hey, it is very, very photogenic. This minimalist cube is a fine example of how concrete can be translated into something that is both eye-catchingly bold and filigree at the same time.

Grisons Museum of Fine Arts (Extension)

Words & Photography: Karin Bürki
- Cultural
- Barozzi Veiga
- 2014-2016
- Bahnhofstrasse 35, 7000 Chur
- Grisons
- RIBA Award for International Excellence 2018
- Listed in Carte Brute Switzerland
Gridfinity
The extension won the RIBA Award for International Excellence 2018.



© Karin Bürki/Heartbrut
© Karin Bürki/Heartbrut
- Explore more
- More objects

- Residential
- Esther + Rudolf Guyer
- 1955 (design)-1966
- Birmensdorferstrasse 511, 8005 Zurich
- Zurich

- Infrastructure, Commercial
- Carlo Cesarini
- 1978
- Via G.B Pioda 9, 6900 Lugano
- Ticino
- Join our newsletter
Stay up to speed with our latest updates, new arrivals, special events and seasonal treats. We respect your sanity and privacy.
By signing up you take note of our privacy policy