Kunsthaus Zürich Partially Closed After Fire in Packing Room, No Art Damaged
A fire broke out on the evening of August 2, 2022, in the packing room of Kunsthaus Zürich, forcing the partial closure of the museum. The fire was extinguished by the Zurich professional fire brigade, and no injuries were reported. No artworks were in the affected area, but smoke damage has impacted public areas, offices, and collection rooms in the older building, which was constructed between 1910 and 1976. The temporary exhibition "Rudolf Koller. Die Skizzenbücher" and part of the collection are now closed to the public until further notice. The Chipperfield building remains open, featuring the exhibition "Fellini. Von der Zeichnung zum Film," works of Impressionism, Dadaism, contemporary art, and the Bührle, Merzbacher, and Looser private collections. Remediation work is expected to take several weeks.
The Signal
The fire disrupts the Kunsthaus Zürich's operations just as it was highlighting its expanded facilities with the Chipperfield wing, which opened in 2021. The temporary closure of the older building means visitors lose access to a significant portion of the museum's permanent collection and the Koller show, while the modern wing continues to draw crowds. For collectors and curators, the incident underscores the vulnerability of museum infrastructure, even in well-maintained institutions, and the importance of contingency planning for exhibitions. The museum's communication strategy, prioritizing public safety and transparency, may help maintain visitor confidence during the recovery period.
- Artists: Rudolf Koller, Federico Fellini
- People: Björn Quellenberg, Urs Eberle
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich
- Locations: Zürich
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