Building Expansion – extension of art library/material archive
The Sitterwerk Foundation in St.Gallen is a unique place where art, material research and knowledge transfer come together. Since its establishment in 2006, it has developed into an internationally recognized reference for artistic research, material knowledge and interdisciplinary exchange on art, design and architecture topics with its art library, material archive and studio facilities.
At the center of these activities lies the art library—with a specialized collection of books on sculpture, materials science, techniques, architecture and archiving—and the material archive, which links physical materials with theoretical knowledge. The holdings are constantly growing, not least due to significant book donations. The so-called “dynamic organization” system is particularly influential: instead of fixed shelf positions, the books follow an open system that makes movements in the library visible. This creates a constantly changing organization that reveals new connections and enables individual research paths. This system is complemented by the digital workbench, which allows users to compile, comment on and share their own collections.
The close collaboration with the neighboring Kunstgiesserei St.Gallen and the regular stays of guest artists in the guest studios and visitors in the guest room create productive links between theory, practice and the public. Events, guided tours and exhibitions make knowledge accessible and enable this dialogue to extend beyond the site.
In order to create urgently needed space, in particular for the inclusion of relevant collections and large-format material samples, and to further develop and deepen the use in a future-oriented manner, the foundation is planning a spatial expansion.
The sketches of ideas and the spectrum of possibilities range from an extension of the existing building to an extension on the southern plot of the Sittertal site, and have yet to be developed in concrete terms.
The aims of the extension are to bring all the book collections together under one roof, to create spaces conducive to working and meeting, to expand the collection—particularly in the areas of building culture and sustainability—and to modernize the building to meet today's energy standards. The conversion is being supervised by the architects Flury + Furrer, who have been involved in the architectural design of the buildings rented by the Sitterwerk Foundation for many years.
The extension is intended to visibly strengthen the Sitterwerk Foundation as an open, up-to-date and sustainable center for knowledge, research and exchange—both locally and internationally.
The project requires around CHF 2 million. The aim is to start it next year in 2026 – the 20th anniversary of the Sitterwerk Foundation.
Felix Lehner is donating his prize money of CHF 40,000 from the Prix Meret Oppenheim 2025 to the project. Each additional donation takes us a valuable step further.
For a detailed project description and further information, please contact patricia.hartmann@sitterwerk.ch.
Direct donations by bank transfer to:
St. Galler Kantonalbank
IBAN CH90 0078 1011 0361 0510 2
In the name of: Stiftung Sitterwerk, Sittertalstrasse 34, 9014 St. Gallen
Note: Weiterbauen