Here on the Kupfergraben canal the intention was to build a modern building which incorporates, but doesn't replicate the past. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects as an urban repair, the new building occupies the footprint of the preceding building (destroyed in the war), while at the same time developing a sculptural quality.

The facades are composed of brick masonry on reconstituted stone consoles with no visible expansion joints. While solid, age-resistant materials characterise the exterior, the interior is defined by daylight and proportion. Throughout the 4 storeys the floor plan varies depending on the formation of the volume and the window openings.

The gallery spaces are lit from the side, and interior folding shutters make it possible to reduce the amount of daylight. In contrast to a museum, the intention is to create good spaces, where one can live, work, or show art - in a townhouse dedicated to the arts, where it is not isolated from the world, but directly related to the cultural heart of the city.