The art gallery, which was built at the same time as the neighboring Schmela Gallery is a great example of the Brutalist play with contrasting elements: The material’s roughness is being softened by the rounded edges while the “hovering” construction—a concrete cube on top of a recessed, dark basalt base—visually turns the heavy mass into something lightweight. The only decorative element is a subtly implied crenellation at the edge of the roof. The entrance is emphasized by a recessed façade element. Written by Sandra Pappe

Openings to the West as well as the terraced steps in front of the entrance are later alterations. In the 1990s city residents saved the building from demolition. Renovations between the end of the 1990s and 2002 were led by the architecture firm rheinflügel. The building is officially heritage protected since November 2024. In an upcoming renovation, the building envelope is to be upgraded, the energy efficiency refurbished and the building services renewed, taking into account the heritage protection. Work is currently scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and take up to three years (last updated on February 17, 2025).