Architecture

Form

Kunsthaus Glarus was designed by architect Hans Leuzinger and opened to the public in 1952. The building makes a striking, iconographic visual impression as it rises up among the trees of the city park and merges together with the mountain scenery in the distance. The simple cubic volumes are constructed from expansive yellow-brick walls devoid of windows. They form projection surfaces for the play of shadows from the trees and reflect the function of the exhibition spaces—wall as image support. The massive structural forms contrast visually with the more refined glass crests. The crystalline-esque gable roof tops of frosted wire glass unite the ensemble with the sky and mountain scenery of Glarus. The clear formal language of the Kunsthaus, its relation to the natural environment and distinctive materials are what give it its specific character.

Raum

Both the foyer and the Seitenlichtsaal feature floor-to-ceiling glazing. The spaces open outward toward their surroundings, drawing the park into the exhibition. In contrast, the rooms with overhead light feature non-perforated plastered walls. A diffuse light from the glass ceiling permeates the space. A sequence of open spaces illuminated laterally and introverted rooms with zenithal lighting sets the building’s overall tone. The finely balanced and simple materials of the interiors—featuring floors made of polished artificial stone slabs, wooden or artificial-stone door frames and baseboards as well as wooden doors and reception desks—create a bright and warm atmosphere reminiscent of Nordic architecture. The simple materials, the straightforward nature of the construction, the specific room sizes and proportions, and orchestrated lighting transform the Kunsthaus into a concentrated spatial experience.