2024-09-18 11:08:08
With a quote from the Roxette classic “It must have been love, but it’s over now”, the Folklore Museum is saying goodbye to its general renovation in Pavilion 1 of the Otto Wagner area from October. Until then, a “plan show for the general renovation” in the Schönborn Garden Palace will be on display for two weeks to give an insight into the redesign by the Silberpfeil architects, who want to make the building barrier-free and permeable in the future.
“It is an exciting, almost historic moment for us,” said director Matthias Beitl on Wednesday at a press conference in the almost completely cleared-out Folklore Museum. The general renovation has been on the cards since 2007 and can now be carried out thanks to the EU’s recovery and resilience plan. In the past ten to twelve years, they have managed to gain more attention with a “very diversified, partly experimental program and an expanded concept of publicity.” The motto for the future is: “Minimal internal space, maximum public space.”
The future spatial program locates the offices on the ground floor “on the public axis”, which would free up exhibition space on the upper floor. In addition, the café (“an essential asset”) will be expanded in order to position the museum more strongly as a recreational space. In terms of content, the plan is to focus on multi-year thematic priorities from June 2026 “in order to jointly develop this cultural and social museum further”.
“In projects like this, the fund’s subsidies, which in Austria total 4 billion euros, become tangible,” emphasized Tim Joris Kaiser of the European Commission. Oliver Schreiber of the Ministry of Culture was particularly looking forward to a “reorganization of visitor guidance and improvement of the quality of the space” as well as a new permeability that would make the Folklore Museum an “extended cultural living room.” According to Gerald Beck of the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG), construction work will begin in January with the drying out of the masonry of the building from 1714. In addition, the gas heating will be converted to an air-heat pump, elevators will be installed and the building will be renovated in coordination with the Federal Monuments Office. “Such a renovation is not a run-of-the-mill project,” he emphasized in view of the challenges of renovating the historic building.
“Small interventions are often much more complex than larger ones,” agreed architect Peter Rogl from Silberpfeil Architekten. The architectural concept is based on openness; in the future, a “cultural beer garden” – a small, furnished, consumption-free area in front of the building – will draw attention to the museum “in an audiovisual way.” After all, changes to the facade are not possible due to the monument protection. Instead, the focus is on an inviting reception area that also invites people to linger. The passage to Schönborn Park (“The roses stay!”) will be retained. In addition to barrier-free access, the focus is also on an enlarged exhibition area and event rooms on the first floor.
The renovation, for which 25 million euros from the EU fund and 2.5 million euros from the cultural budget are estimated, is to be completed in June 2026. Beck was optimistic in response to an APA query that the budget would be kept. While the museum is finding a new home on the Otto Wagner site in the meantime, a flea market will be held in the building on October 4 and 5, culminating in a large “closing sale” on October 25 and 26.
(S E R V I C E – www.volkskundemuseum.at)
1726657826
#Folklore #Museum #renovated #shows #plans
– What are the key changes expected in the Folklore Museum’s renovation?
Table of Contents
Folklore Museum to Undergo Extensive Renovation: A New Era of Cultural Experience
As the iconic Swedish band Roxette once sang, “It must have been love, but it’s over now.” In this case, the Folklore Museum is bidding farewell to its current state, preparing to undergo a comprehensive general renovation in Pavilion 1 of the Otto Wagner area. The museum’s transformation is set to begin in October, but before that, a “plan show” exhibition will be on display for two weeks at the Schönborn Garden Palace, offering a sneak peek into the exciting changes to come.
A Historic Moment for the Folklore Museum
According to Director Matthias Beitl, “It’s an exciting, almost historic moment for us.” The general renovation has been in the works since 2007, and thanks to the EU’s recovery and resilience plan, it can finally become a reality. Over the past decade, the museum has worked to gain more attention with a diverse program and expanded publicity concept. The motto for the future is clear: “Minimal internal space, maximum public space.”
A New Spatial Program
The future spatial program involves relocating the offices to the ground floor, freeing up exhibition space on the upper floor. The café will be expanded, positioning the museum as a premier recreational destination. The museum will focus on multi-year thematic priorities from June 2026, with the aim of developing the cultural and social institution further.
EU Funding Brings Tangible Benefits
Tim Joris Kaiser of the European Commission emphasized that the EU’s subsidies, totaling 4 billion euros in Austria, are becoming tangible through projects like this. Oliver Schreiber of the Ministry of Culture is particularly looking forward to the reorganization of visitor guidance and improvement of the space’s quality, as well as the new permeability that will transform the Folklore Museum into an ”extended cultural living room.”
The Renovation Process: Challenges and Opportunities
Gerald Beck of the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) explained that construction work will begin in January with the drying out of the masonry of the historic 1714 building. The gas heating will be converted to an air-heat pump, elevators will be installed, and the building will be renovated in coordination with the Federal Monuments Office. Architect Peter Rogl from Silberpfeil Architekten acknowledged that small interventions can be more complex than larger ones, but the architectural concept is centered around openness and inviting accessibility.
A Cultural Beer Garden and Beyond
The museum’s new design will feature a ”cultural beer garden” – a small, furnished area in front of the building that will draw attention to the museum through audiovisual means. While changes to the facade are not possible due to monument protection, the focus is on creating an inviting reception area that encourages visitors to linger. The passage to Schönborn Park will be retained, and the emphasis will be on barrier-free access, an enlarged exhibition area, and event rooms on the first floor.
A 25 Million Euro Investment in Cultural Heritage
The renovation, funded by 25 million euros from the EU, is not a run-of-the-mill project. It requires careful consideration of the historic building’s challenges, while still providing a state-of-the-art cultural experience for visitors. As the Folklore Museum prepares for its transformation, it’s clear that the end result will be a testament to the power of cultural revitalization and community engagement.
Key Takeaways:
The Folklore Museum will undergo a comprehensive general renovation in Pavilion 1 of the Otto Wagner area, starting in October.
A “plan show” exhibition will be on display for two weeks at the Schönborn Garden Palace, showcasing the design concept.
The museum will focus on minimal internal space and maximum public space, with a new spatial program and expanded café.
The EU’s subsidies, totaling 4 billion euros in Austria, are supporting the project.
The renovation will prioritize barrier-free access, an enlarged exhibition area, and event rooms on the first floor.
Optimized Keywords:
Folklore Museum
Pavilion 1
Otto Wagner area
Cultural Experience
EU Funding
Renovation Process
Cultural Heritage
Barrier-Free Access
Enlarged Exhibition Area
Event Rooms
* Silberpfeil Architekten
Meta Description:
Learn about the Folklore Museum’s upcoming general renovation, funded by the EU, which will transform the cultural institution into an “extended cultural living room” with minimal internal space and maximum public space.
What are the main features of the Folklore Museum’s renovation plan?
Folklore Museum to Undergo Extensive Renovation: A New Era of Cultural Experience
As the iconic Swedish band Roxette once sang, “It must have been love, but it’s over now.” In this case, the Folklore Museum is bidding farewell to its current state, preparing to undergo a comprehensive general renovation in Pavilion 1 of the Otto Wagner area. The museum’s transformation is set to begin in October, but before that, a “plan show” exhibition will be on display for two weeks at the Schönborn Garden Palace, offering a sneak peek into the redesign by Silberpfeil architects.
A Historic Moment for the Folklore Museum
“It is an exciting, almost historic moment for us,” said director Matthias Beitl on Wednesday at a press conference in the almost completely cleared-out Folklore Museum. The general renovation has been on the cards since 2007 and can now be carried out thanks to the EU’s recovery and resilience plan. In the past ten to twelve years, they have managed to gain more attention with a “very diversified, partly experimental program and an expanded concept of publicity.” The motto for the future is: “Minimal internal space, maximum public space.”
Key Changes in the Renovation Plan
The future spatial program locates the offices on the ground floor “on the public axis,” which would free up exhibition space on the upper floor. In addition, the café (“an essential asset”) will be expanded to position the museum more strongly as a recreational space. The plan is to focus on multi-year thematic priorities from June 2026 “in order to jointly develop this cultural and social museum further.”
EU Funding and Collaborative Efforts
The renovation project has received significant funding from the EU’s recovery and resilience plan, with a total of 25 million euros allocated for the project. Tim Joris Kaiser of the European Commission emphasized that “in projects like this, the fund’s subsidies, which in Austria total 4 billion euros, become tangible.” Oliver Schreiber of the Ministry of Culture is particularly looking forward to a “reorganization of visitor guidance and improvement of the quality of the space” as well as a new permeability that would make the Folklore Museum an “extended cultural living room.”
Challenges and Opportunities in Renovating a Historic Building
Gerald Beck of the Federal Real Estate Company (BIG) noted that construction work will begin in January with the drying out of the masonry of the building from 1714. The gas heating will be converted to an air-heat pump, elevators will be installed, and the building will be renovated in coordination with the Federal Monuments Office. “Such a renovation is not a run-of-the-mill project,” he emphasized in view of the challenges of renovating the historic building.
Architectural Concept and Design
The architectural concept is based on openness, with a “cultural beer garden” – a small, furnished, consumption-free area in front of the building – drawing attention to the museum “in an audiovisual way.” Despite monument protection restrictions, the focus is on an inviting reception area that also invites people to linger. The passage to Schönborn Park will be retained, and barrier-free access, an enlarged exhibition area, and event rooms on the first floor are also planned.
Timeline and Budget
The renovation is expected to be completed in June 2026, with a budget of 25 million euros from the EU fund and 2.5 million euros from the cultural budget. While the museum finds a new home on the Otto Wagner site in the meantime, a flea market will be held in the building on October 4 and 5, culminating in a large “closing sale” on October 25 and 26.
The Folklore Museum’s renovation is a significant step towards creating a more accessible, inclusive, and engaging cultural institution. With its new design and features, the museum is poised to become an “extended cultural living room” for the community, offering a unique and enriching experience for visitors of all ages.
Keyword Tags: Folklore Museum, Renovation, EU Funding, Cultural Institution, Historic Building, Accessibility, Inclusivity, Cultural Experience.
Meta Description: The Folklore Museum is undergoing a comprehensive renovation, set to transform the institution into a more accessible, inclusive, and engaging cultural space. Learn more about the project’s key changes, funding, and expected outcomes.
