2_0_DiscoverGermany_Sept2014_Issue18:Scan Magazine 1
2/9/14
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Page 99
Atraction of the Month Switzerland
Swiss architectural history in a European tripoint The S AM Swiss Architecture Museum presents contemporary Swiss Architecture to a broad audience.
operation. Diener & Diener in Cooperation with Martin Steinmann and Josef Felix Müller / Peter Märkli and Hans Josephsohn is part of this series. It examines the synergy between artists and architects working closely together on a project from the beginning. The exhibition contains installations of models, plans, drawings and sketches.
TEXT: DORINA REICHHOLD | PHOTOS: S AM SWISS ARCHITECTURE MUSEUM
Merging the old and the new, with architecture that spans the last millennia and its numerous epochs standing alongside various contemporary buildings that were planned by prolific architecture award-winners, the city of Basel is an obvious location to house the S AM Swiss Architecture Museum. There are two core themes that the museum addresses in one exhibition each per year. The first one is History and Present where architectural themes and expressions of the 1950s, 60s and 70s are explored and their value and importance for today are discussed. The second core theme deals with ‘Interdisciplinary’. “Through this, we can explore different crossroads within architecture,” explains Hubertus Adam, Director of S AM.
A successful example of this concept was the exhibition entitled In Space and Marked by Time. Anna Viebrock – Stage Design as Architecture, which examined the work of the stage designer, costume designer and director Anna Viebrock.“The exhibition was well received by a professional audience, but it also attracted a great number of cultural enthusiasts, without pushing a blockbuster-style theme or a star architect,”explains Adam cheerfully. Completing the museum’s content, there are an additional two exhibitions per year from a series addressing the topic of “Spatial Positions”. These exhibitions examine the positions of contemporary architects and artists as well as interpreting the historical architectural position from a modern point of view.The upcoming exhibition Co-
As the leading institution for Swiss contemporary architecture, S AM focuses on addressing a broad audience that includes professionals as well as anyone who has an interest in architecture. It has already staged more than 150 temporary exhibitions as well as numerous accompanying events such as podium discussions and workshops. Situated in the tri-border area between Switzerland, France and Germany, the museum attracts a large number of international visitors and is therefore a great supporter of transnational dialogue and networking. Founded in 1984, S AM is celebrating 30 years of exhibiting world famous Swiss contributions to contemporary design and architecture. www.sam-basel.org
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