Museum building: Migration museum seeks architecture
12 August 2024
- Europe-wide tendering process for architecture, building construction and exhibition design begins today
- Public announcement of the winning design in early 2025
- A nationwide migration museum is being built on a former industrial site in Cologne-Kalk
- Opening of the museum planned for 2029
Cologne, 12.08.2024 - With the Europe-wide tender for the Migration Museum, the cultural building financed by the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is picking up speed. On a derelict industrial site in Cologne on the right bank of the Rhine, a museum is being created with a collection that is unique in Germany and tells the story of the past and present of the migration society. The sponsor of the future museum, DOMiD (Documentation Center and Museum on Migration in Germany), has launched a tendering process in which architecture and scenography firms from all over Europe can apply. DOMiD is taking a special approach: with the aim of ensuring that all designs are consistent from the outset, only planning teams can submit designs that combine architecture and scenography. The winning design will be publicly announced at the beginning of 2025.
"What was just a vision a few years ago is now taking shape," says DOMiD Managing Director Robert Fuchs, delighted with the start of the tendering process. Over the past two years, DOMiD has advanced the concept for the building and the architectural requirements planning to such an extent that designs for the architecture and exhibition design can now be obtained.
Europe-wide invitation to tender
This will take place in a Europe-wide, multi-stage tendering process, which will be completed in the first quarter of next year. For the far-reaching decision on which planning team to work with, DOMiD is seeking further expertise and forming an interdisciplinary advisory committee. Applications for the tenders can be submitted immediately via the usual portals.
DOMiD is choosing a procedure that is increasingly being used in the construction of cultural buildings and has many advantages, explains Museum Construction Project Manager Yordanos Asghedom: "The architecture and engineering firms have to join forces with the exhibition designers to form a planning team and submit a joint design. In this way, we can ensure that the complex museum planning goes hand in hand across all trades."
Public announcement and exhibition planned
At the beginning of next year, DOMiD will present the winning design to the public at an event and present digital models and designs. DOMiD and the planning team will then initiate the planning and approval phase so that the first excavators can start rolling from 2027/2028. The opening is scheduled for 2029, subject to external factors. The museum building will be financed in equal parts by the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city of Cologne is providing the land and building. DOMiD is currently in final and constructive talks with the City of Cologne about the long-term leasehold contract, for which the City Council of Cologne gave the green light back in March.