Revamped West Wing unveiled, offering fresh atmosphere
In a radical makeover of Schloss and Park Benrath, jointly funded by the federal government, North Rhine-Westphalia state, and Düsseldorf city, the Stiftung Schloss und Park Benrath organized an archi-bash to redesign the West Wing of Schloss Benrath.
Ten design powerhouses from across Germany battled it out, presenting their visions to a bigwig panel. The champ was Prof. Spital-Frenking + Schwarz from Dortmund, with a design that left jaws dropping. HPP Architekten GmbH from Düsseldorf bagged the second prize, and VON M GmbH from Stuttgart snatched the third.
The winning design featured a cool idea: a pavilion that flips like a pancake for the visitor center in the courtyard. This bad boy will cover the basics—info, tickets, cloakroom, and museum shop—without spoiling the courtyard's historical vibe. In the future, the West Wing will transform into a new museum, merging the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Garden Art, as suggested by the project name, "Schlossmuseum Benrath - Gardens, Art, Nature".
The new museum aims to connect the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Garden Art collections, focusing on how these realms intertwine. The goal of the architectural competition was to fit the museum needs and the visitor center into the West Wing, unveiling the courtyard to the public for the first time. Miriam Koch, a jury member and Stiftung Schloss und Park Benrath board secretary, was hype: "The archi-bash for the West Wing redesign was a killer move towards a modern evolution of the foundation. We can't wait to see the winning design come to life, boosting Schloss Benrath's status as a hub where art, nature, and history rub shoulders."
From July 25th, the competition results will be on display in the museum shop of the castle. Check 'em out on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 11 am to 5 pm, or on weekends from 11 am to 6 pm.
Unfortunately, details about the winning design's specifics are scarce at the moment. For the real scoop, consult official project announcements from Schloss Benrath, architectural competition results, or local media focused on this refurbishment.
The winning design, spearheaded by Prof. Spital-Frenking + Schwarz, promises to redefine cultural-travel experiences at Schloss Benrath, with a pancake-flipping visitor center that maintains the courtyard's historical vibe. As part of the modern evolution of the foundation, the new museum aims to fuse the Natural History Museum and the Museum of Garden Art collections, offering travelers an immersive exploration of art, nature, and history.
