Christ & Gantenbein combine past and present in the Swiss National Museum's extension wing

Over a century after its inauguration, the Swiss National Museum in Zurich was due for an update. Christ & Gantenbein had the winning proposal to design the museum's new extension wing, which appears like a “dramatically bent bridge”. Most recently, the extension won a Gold Award in last year's Best Architects 18 competition in the Public Buildings category.

Keep reading for more about the project.

Closing the existing building's U-shaped perimeter, the extension wing lets visitors experience exhibitions along a path without interruption, while keeping access from the museum's courtyard to the neighboring Platzspitz Park open.

Combining the old and new, Christ & Gantenbein's design of the extension reinterprets architectural motifs in the existing museum building. For instance, the origami-like folds of the extension's roof are a reference to the pitched-roof composition of the original building. 

The double-wall construction of the new building is as thick as the original 19th-century walls, but it also meets contemporary energy-saving standards. The extension comprises of flexible exhibition spaces, a study center with a library, and a large auditorium.

Find more project drawings in the gallery below.

All photos courtesy of Best Architects 18.