Museum of Modern Literature
The Schiller National Museum was erected on a hillside at the birthplace of Friedrich Schiller in 1903. Built on the outskirts of Marbach on the Neckar, this institution is a loving tribute created by the Friends of Schiller. As the German Literature Archive grew, it was given its own nearby building in 1973. The Museum of Modern Literature, a jewel of a museum and unique in the world, opened its doors on 9th May 2006, the 200th anniversary of Schiller’s death.
A small part of the German Literature Archive is presented over a surface of 1,000 square metres in a series of memorable exhibitions. The new building by David Chipperfield Architects of Berlin stands at right angles to the Schiller National Museum with similar dimensions in terms of layout and elevation. The manner in which the architecture is embedded in the topography is impressive, allowing a wide view over the Neckar Valley. The exhibits require extreme conditions: no daylight, crepuscular 50 lux, cool 18 °C temperature and humidity of 50 %. How does the architecture respond to these extremes? The exhibits are housed in low levels of illumination coming as close to natural light as safely possible. As you leave the actual museum in the direction of the foyer which is situated above, daylight filters in more and more. The interaction of extroverted landscape and introverted space allocation works well, thanks to a successfully executed outdoor lighting system, even when darkness falls.
| Builder-owner: |
Deutsche Schillergesellschaft e.V. |
| Architects: |
David Chipperfields Architects, Berlin |
| Project manager: |
Alexander Schwarz |
| Light planning: |
ibb Burrer & Deuring, Ludwigsburg |
| Electrical planning: |
ibb Burrer & Deuring, Ludwigsburg |
Information Brochure 2 - 2009
