Textilmuseum St.Gallen. Competition entry.
As part of a comprehensive restoration the Textilmuseum will receive a new archive and an additional exhibition floor. The museum positions himself as a beacon of international reputation in St.Gallen. From this perspective it shouldn’t only assert itself as a stately commercial building in the streets but also stand out from a distance through a striking roof much like hilltops surrounding the city. For both urban and functional reasons it is designed with sufficient volume to accommodate the archive as well as new exhibition floor. The archive reflects the entire knowledge of the museum and is symbolically positioned as the head or brain on top of the building. The existing eaves line reflects the break between existing part and new addition which is itself divided in a lower part align with the façade and an upper section that transforms into the sloped roof. The lower part is visible as the exhibition floor and the pitched roof reduces the perceived height of the building on street level. The shape of the roof corresponds to building’s underlying structure with a central part flanked by corner elements. In terms of material and color the extension is articulated as an independent volume. While the brick façade refers to the building’s industrial character the roof evokes a textile skin layered over it. The new showroom is protected from daylight and remains without windows. Conceived in dark tones the colorful accents are set by the exhibits. The existing knee wall, functioning as a continuous ledge, and the wooden floor serves as constructive elements that support spacial orientation.
Client: Foundation Textilmuseum St.Gallen __ competition 2020 __ size 1300m²
Refurbishment __ Program: archive, exhibition space