Kunstmuseum Basel Extension

The Kunstmuseum Basel Extension by Christ & Gantenbein stands as a contemporary counterpart to the museum’s historic main building. Clad in grey brick and connected by an underground passage beneath the street, the extension enlarges the institution while staying in close dialogue with its urban context.

Its angled volume responds carefully to the surrounding streets and public spaces, while an indented corner opens the entrance toward the pedestrian realm. The elongated brick façade gives the building a calm, almost monolithic presence — solid, precise, and restrained.

Rather than imitating the historic museum, Christ & Gantenbein translate familiar elements such as the base, windows, cornice, and frieze into a contemporary language. The light frieze integrated into the brickwork introduces a subtle animated layer, allowing the façade to speak quietly to the city.