A crack in the Pinakothek der Moderne

Only ten years old, the Pinakothek der Moderne is already in desperate need of repairs. The museum announced last week that it would be closed from February to September 2013. Only a decade ago, this museum became the pride of the Munich's art world.

A showpiece to house an extensive private collection, as well as travelling exhibitions, the Pinakothek der Moderne has become a must see destination for art lovers visiting the city. Along with the nearby Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek, the Pinakothek der Moderne makes for an impressive museum complex that spans the centuries from medieval art to the 21st century.

Designed by star architect Stephan Braunfels, the building is open and inviting. For this very project, he won the Deutscher Kritikerpreis. The massive foyer impresses visitors immediately, and upon arriving at the ticket counter one is often astounded at the selection of different exhibitions.

According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, both questionable planning and shoddy materials are to blame for the present situation. Purportedly, there have been leaks in the building since it was built, and the system of skylights never worked properly. The concrete was allegedly mixed so badly, that obvious cracks have begun to appear.

While the museum is inoperable, a temporary building, called the Schaustelle, will be opened to allow the museum to continue to display some of its collection. Nevertheless, there is no way that this stopgap measure can adequately replace a 12,000 square metre structure. The absence of the Pinakothek der Moderne will be clearly noticed.
The EUR750,000 renovations have to be made to bring the building up to acceptable building standards. Luckily, the Bavarian State, the museum's sponsor Audi and the museum itself have already agreed to pay for the unexpected renovations. The obvious question is why the structure is in such a state of disrepair after only a decade.