Architects in Hannover are calling for a bold and creative renovation of the August Kestner Museum, arguing that the current planned renovation should be expanded to transform the inconspicuous building into a true architectural highlight. The museum, located prominently next to the New City Hall on the busy Friedrichswall, currently fails to attract attention despite its prime location.
Jens-Uwe Seyfarth, regional chairman of the German Architects Association (BDA) in Hannover, is leading the charge for change. "The Kestner Museum is too closed off. We see an opportunity for transformation here," Seyfarth explained. He advocates for "tearing open" the building to make it more accessible and engaging for visitors. Seyfarth admitted that when he first moved to Hannover from Wilhelmshaven, it took him a long time to realize the building was actually a museum, initially thinking it might be some kind of technical facility.
The architects' renewed focus on the Kestner Museum stems partly from recent developments with the Historical Museum. The city council recently approved 81 million euros for a comprehensive renovation of the Historical Museum building on Hohen Ufer, with the project expected to take approximately ten years to complete. However, that renovation will maintain the building's existing external appearance, avoiding what Seyfarth calls an "Elbphilharmonie effect" – referring to Hamburg's iconic concert hall that became a major architectural attraction.
While Seyfarth doesn't criticize the Historical Museum's conservative approach, noting that "not every building needs to scream" and that the renovation should proceed as quickly as possible with a fixed timeline, he believes the Kestner Museum deserves different treatment. The architect suggests that a competition could generate innovative ideas for the museum's future. "The goal must be to make the August Kestner Museum more inviting, so that people become curious and want to go inside," he emphasized.
The city administration, however, currently has different plans for the heritage-protected building, which houses ancient art and Egyptian cultural artifacts, applied arts with a design collection, and an extensive collection of coins and medals. Unlike the Historical Museum, city spokeswoman Janine Herrmann indicated that only a much less comprehensive partial renovation is planned for the existing structure. The proposed improvements include updates to fire safety systems, ceiling repairs, and foyer renovations, with costs estimated at approximately 11.6 million euros as of 2024.
The city also points to the comprehensive heritage protection status of the Kestner Museum as a significant constraint. The building was reopened in 1961 after World War II destruction, featuring a characteristic cube-like glass-concrete facade that encloses the remains of the original 1889 structure. "A change to the external appearance is therefore not intended and is also not legally permissible for legal reasons," spokeswoman Herrmann stated.
Additionally, the heritage protection authority has requested that the restoration of the historic skylight hall be included in the renovation plans. "The goal is therefore the preservation or restoration of the original condition," the spokeswoman explained. The city council is expected to make a decision on these plans in early 2026, with construction potentially beginning in 2027.
Despite these constraints, architect Seyfarth remains convinced that significant changes to the August Kestner Museum are possible even under heritage protection rules. He notes that the building underwent substantial modifications in the 1960s, arguing that "now we are 60 years further along. This is about further development." He emphasizes that when renovating a protected monument, changes must be clearly recognizable as new additions, and he firmly believes that modifications to the building envelope are necessary to achieve the desired transformation.
