The Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann was designed in 1996 by the architects Zamp Kelp, Julius Krauss and Arno Brandlhuber . The building is located at the site of the first Neanderthal man discovery in the Neanderthal and features an exhibit centered on human evolution.
Neanderthal Museum by Brandlhuber technical information
- Architects: Günter Zamp Kelp, Julius Krauss, Arno Brandlhuber | Works of Brandlhuber
- Typology : Cultural Architecture / Museum
- Design Team : Zamp Kelp und Julius Krauss, Arno Brandlhuber; Astrid Becker, Markus Emde, Thomas Gutt
- Location: Mettmann, Germany
- Client: Neanderthal foundation, Mettmann
- Total square footage: 3,534 sqm
- Costs: 6.1 Million Euros
- Main Materials : U-Glass, Concrete
- Project Year : 1996
- Photographs : © Michael Reisch
A museum of the evolution of mankind has to represent the myth of the location of the Neanderthal and the content it presents at the same time.
The loop-like ramp as a synonym for infinity is implementing a spatial parabola of the development of mankind which is understood as part of infinity.
– Brandlhuber Architects
Neanderthal Museum Photographs
The architectural plan for the museum was chosen through a competition held in the spring of 1993 in which 130 participants from Germany and other countries participated. The design submitted by Professor Günter Zamp Kelp, Julius Krauss and Arno Brandlhuber was chosen as it represented the importance of the location
Description by the Architects
The museum has been built close to site where the Neanderthal first has been discovered. The linear path through the museum loops analogue to the historical arrangement of the exhibits spiral-like upwards. A hollow shell which is fixed diagonal in the solid Walls serves four functions: a stair for a direct access, a second emergency stair as well as for the whole waste air and static bracing of the building.
A museum of the evolution of mankind has to represent the myth of the location of the Neanderthal and the content it presents at the same time. The loop-like ramp as a synonym for infinity is implementing a spatial parabola of the development of mankind which is understood as part of infinity.
Neanderthal Museum Plans
Neanderthal Museum Gallery
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