DETAIL Prize 2012: Villa Vauban Museum – Art Gallery of the City of Luxembourg

Nominated for DETAIL Prize 2012: Villa Vauban Museum – Art Gallery of the City of Luxembourg
Diane Heirend & Philippe Schmit architects

Restoration of the historic Villa Vauban and the construction of a new extension by Diane Heirend & Philippe Schmit architects were completed in 2010. Villa Vauban – Musée d'Art de la Ville de Luxemburg – will now present works from the municipal art collection as well as temporary exhibitions. As a result of the architectural modification, it was possible to maximise the exhibition area without any deleterious effect on the historic elements of the original structure. A balance was found between the building components by placing approximately half of the extension underground. Due to a perforated red brass facade, the above-ground elements are immediately identifiable as parts of a public building. Large facade openings create views to the outside and enable passers-by to steal a glance into the museum's interior. Old and new exhibition rooms are harmonised with each other in a circular pathway, whereby the new entrance hall serves as a connecting element. The new gallery rooms overlap and intersect each other, are arranged in a slightly offset position and possess different qualities, e.g. for a sculpture exhibition, children's workshop, loggia or exhibition niches. In the interior, hammered concrete surfaces, etched translucent glass facades and oak floors give the indoor atmosphere its special character.

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