David Chipperfield completes the Carmen Würth Forum

Conceived as a contemporary forum, the Würth Group’s complex is now finished. From the exhibition halls to the large sculpture park, making reference to the company’s history in Künzelsau.  

David Chipperfield Architects, Carmen Würth Forum, phase 2, Künzelsau, Germany Art museum, exhibition hall. Photo Simon Menges  

Art museum, graphical art gallery. Photo Simon Menges  

Conference area. Photo Simon Menges  

View from southeast. Photo Simon Menges  

Art museum, belvedere. Photo Simon Menges  

Site plan, original scale 1:5000. © David Chipperfield Architects  

First-floor plan, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

Ground floor plan with section lines, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

Lower ground floor plan, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

Roof plan, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

Section AA, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

Section BB, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

Section CC, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

East elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

North elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

South elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

West elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

After the first phase completed in 2017, the Carmen Würth Forum in Künzelsau designed by David Chipperfield Architects Berlin is now complete. Located in southern Germany, the complex is conceptually set up as a contemporary forum open to company employees, residents and visitors.

This complex, says David Chipperfield, “fulfills Reinhold Würth’s vision to create a gathering place for the employees of Würth and the wider community beyond,” a role, says the architect, “which the company has nurtured so impressively over the years.”

The museum and conference centre now complete the complex, which also includes a music hall and an event hall, completed in the first phase. The more than 18,300 pieces from the Reinhold Würth collection are distributed between the museum’s exhibition rooms and the sculpture park.

Opening image: northwest view. Photo Simon Menges

  • Music hall and events hall (phase 1, 2017); museum and congress centre (phase 2, 2020)
  • Museum complex
  • Künzelsau, Germany
  • David Chipperfield Architects Berlin
  • David Chipperfield, Harald Müller, Martin Reichert, Alexander Schwarz
  • Annette Flohrschütz (competition), Marcus Mathias (phase 2)
  • Kraft + Kraft Architekten, Schwäbisch Hall
  • Mayer-Vorfelder und Dinkelacker Ingenieurgesellschaft für Bauwesen GmbH und Co KG, Sindelfingen
  • ZB Zimmermann und Becker GmbH, Heilbronn PBS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH, Aalen
  • Horstmann + Berger, Altensteig
  • Halfkann + Kirchner, Stuttgart
  • Reba Fassadentechnik AG, Chur
  • Arup Deutschland GmbH, Berlin
  • 5,500 sqm
  • 2020
David Chipperfield Architects, Carmen Würth Forum, phase 2, Künzelsau, Germany

Art museum, exhibition hall. Photo Simon Menges  

Art museum, graphical art gallery. Photo Simon Menges  

Conference area. Photo Simon Menges  

View from southeast. Photo Simon Menges  

Art museum, belvedere. Photo Simon Menges  

Site plan, original scale 1:5000. © David Chipperfield Architects  

First-floor plan, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

Ground floor plan with section lines, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

Lower ground floor plan, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

Roof plan, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

Section AA, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

Section BB, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

Section CC, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

East elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

North elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects

South elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects  

West elevation, original scale 1:750. © David Chipperfield Architects