Herzog & de Meuron's "Visible Storage" in Basel

At a Glance

Schaulager in Münchenstein outside Basel is a hybrid storage and research facility for the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation's 860 contemporary works. Opened 2003 in a building by Herzog & de Meuron, the same year they won the Pritzker.

Rethinking the Museum Store

Rejecting the norm of hiding 90 % of a collection, the foundation designed a five-story facility where every work is accessible to researchers year-round. Public exhibitions run each summer.

Highlights

• Hoffmann Foundation collection — Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, video art.
• Robert Gober's long-term floor.
• Early Jeff Koons.
• Major summer exhibitions (McCarthy, Kusama).
• Free online archive of all works.

Visiting Tips

Tram 10/11 from Basel SBB. CHF 20 during public season (spring–summer). 2 hours. Pair with Beyeler and Tinguely.