Küppersmühle - Grothe Collection

The exemplary reconversion of the old mill object was demonstrated at the Duisburg industrial port by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. These world figures of minimalism based their gallery for Grotta's art collection on a consistent contrast and museum restraint. They preserved only the outer walls of the original mill; all internal structures are new, including the new symbol of the museum—a concrete communication tower next to the entrance, which is itself a significant minimalist detail. The concrete spiral staircase connects all floors, whose height is enormous, making the exhibited works appear more majestic, further enhanced by the narrow window slits running the full height of the floor. This allows observers outside to have a true perception of the internal operation.
Küppersmühle with the Grotta collection is a pleasant accent in the Foster master plan for the redevelopment of Duisburg’s port. The architects created a dignified stand for 20th-century German art and emphasized their minimalist understanding of architecture through the building itself.