06 Sep 2020 - KABINETT AWARDED CULTURE PRIZE

Kabinett awarded European Culture Prize

BASEL, SWITZERLAND, 06 September 2020 – We are delighted to announce that the Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett, Basel has been awarded the “European Culture Prize” / “Europäischer Kulturpreis” by the European Cultural Foundation PRO EUROPA. The Kabinett won the award for its commitment to make accessible its extensive collection of architecture, art and photography. PRO EUROPA announced the award during a concert ceremony at 402 Stadtcasino on 6 September 2020.

The Jacques Herzog und Pierre de Meuron Kabinett, Basel, is a charitable foundation established in 2015, comprising of three sub-Kabinetts—architecture, art, and photography—with the aim to keep these holdings intact as a cultural asset and to work with them in their specificity. “Our goal, first and foremost, is to have the estates permanently domiciled in Basel in their entirety, such that they may contribute to the cultural substance of our native city, which has been a lifelong inspiration to us.” — Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron (July 2020).

The extremely diverse yet complementary parts integrated in the Kabinett represents the multiplicity and openness that has been crucial to our office’s collaborative approach. Under the direction of Senior Partner Esther Zumsteg, the Kabinett been created as a place where this approach can be documented and reflected upon. The Kabinett is envisioned to act as a type of laboratory for future research and teaching projects, accessible to a national and international audience.

Housed in 312 Helsinki Dreispitz, the Kabinett is a concept, space and collection that everyone in our office has contributed to in some way, shape or form. We are honoured that the Kabinett has been recognized by the European Cultural Foundation for its role as a ‘wunderkammer’; a collection of extensive archival content, and its potential as a ‘laboratory’; to facilitate future research projects. We are excited for what this exposure may bring, and how the Kabinett may serve as a model for research and teaching in the wider architectural sphere.