A customised solution for the Reinhard Ernst Museum

Depot for art storage

Depot Museum Reinhard Ernst – A customised solution for art storage
On 25 June 2024, the Reinhard Ernst Museum in Wiesbaden opened its doors for the first time. This new museum for abstract art was created by the vision of the founder and entrepreneur Reinhard Ernst and, in addition to impressive works of art, also offers the highest standards of storage and preservation. The design is by the Japanese architect and Pritzker Prize winner Fumihiko Maki, known for his clear design language and innovative buildings. The Reinhard Ernst Museum is his first in Europe and impresses with architecture in which no two walls are directly adjacent.

Requirements for the storage facility
Specific requirements had to be met for the storage of the museum's valuable art collection. The biggest challenge was to develop a system that could store large and delicate works of art in a secure and space-saving way without affecting the building's statics. During the entire project phase, ArchiBALD, as a sales partner for ArtStore in Germany, was on site as a planner and project manager and a direct point of contact for the Reinhard Ernst Museum. The storage system was developed in close cooperation with the manufacturer ArtStore by Kern Studer GmbH, the planner and the construction company. A free-standing construction had to be chosen in which the loads could be transferred into the ground without creating additional loads on the walls or ceilings of the museum. At the same time, the position of the load-bearing walls for the building had to be chosen in such a way that both static requirements and the use of the room as a depot were guaranteed. This solution allowed for optimal use of space and safe storage of large-format paintings.

The depository as part of a comprehensive collection
Collections are not only private treasures, but also cultural heritage, which is preserved and made accessible to the public through responsible collecting and storage. This underlines the important function of the museum as an interface between the preservation and presentation of art. A special aspect of the Museum Reinhard Ernst collection is the use of modern and innovative storage systems from ArtStore, such as the aesthetically pleasing DL-120 and the compact Art Gallery. These systems not only offer functional advantages, such as secure storage and easy accessibility, but also open up new possibilities for presentation thanks to their well-thought-out design. This creates a connection between the aesthetic experience of art and the technical expertise behind its preservation. In addition to large-format paintings, small sculptures, graphics and photographs are also stored here. The Reinhard & Sonja Ernst Foundation aims to make art accessible to a broad audience while also emphasising the collectors' responsibility to society.

Read more in the PDF (issue two, 2024, KulturBetrieb magazine)

News overview