DETAIL Prize 2012

Nominated for DETAIL Prize 2012: Städel Museum extension, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
schneider+schumacher Planungsgesellschaft mbH

The Städel Museum extension in Frankfurt am Main designed by schneider+schumacher is next to the garden wing of the museum building, which was completed in 1878. In contrast to the previous extensions, however, the new museum annex was not placed above ground but underneath the Städel garden. The building is accessed via a central pathway that leads from the main entrance to the extension, which is 3,000 square metres in size and is located underneath the garden. The interior is characterised by a light-looking curved ceiling that stretches unencumbered over the inside space and rests on only 12 supports. 195 circular skylights with a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 meters supply the museum's halls with natural light and are spread out above ground in a pattern on the surface of the garden. In the openings, there is a sunshade system that prevents direct sunlight from entering the building or keeps the daylight out completely. The artificial lighting is also integrated in the skylights. Due to a compact method of construction in the ground, the generation of heat and cooling with a geothermal pendular accumulator, a heat pump and a large interior storage mass, a climate that is optimal for the museum is created with minimal energy consumption.

DETAIL Prize 2012: Online Reader Voting The main prize – the DETAIL Prize 2012 – will be picked by an internationally renowned jury, while the winner of the Reader Prize will be chosen by the readers themselves in an online voting procedure specially set up for this purpose. Choose your favourite project until September 20th! Further information on DETAIL Prize 2012