O&O Baukunst · Kunsthalle Mannheim

O&O Baukunst

Friedrichsplatz is Germany’s most important Jugendstil ensemble. In urban design terms the new museum was confronted with task of integrating itself in this ensemble and at the same time lending it additional lustre.
This museum presents itself like a piece of cast bronze: exact, shimmering. It is both a building of modernism in structural terms and an independent sculpture.
Thirty participants, all with the eminent reputations, were invited to submit entries for the competition. Three sound but rather staidly conventional proposals shared first prize. The striking, and in contrast particularly fascinating, solution by O&O Baukunst was awarded an honourable mention by the jury. Better than nothing – but in the future: more courage!