Städel Museum Renovated with a Gorgeous Green Roof Dotted With Skylights

One of the most important art collections in Germany now has a newly renovated home and a fantastic, polka-dotted green roof garden! The <a href="http://www.staedelmuseum.de/" target="_blank">Städel Museum</a> in Frankfurt am Main recently reopened to the public after three years of extensive renovations, the highlight of which is a domed green roof garden with circular skylights that cover the new subterranean contemporary gallery. Local firm <a href="http://www.schneider-schumacher.de/" target="_blank">Schneider Schumacher</a> took the helm with the renovation and visitors are delighted with the revamped space and the energy efficient facility.

One of the most important art collections in Germany has been renovated with a fantastic, polka-dotted green roof garden! The <a href="http://www.staedelmuseum.de/" target="_blank">Städel Museum</a> in Frankfurt am Main reopened to the public after three years of extensive renovations, the highlight of which is a domed green roof garden with circular skylights that cover the new subterranean contemporary gallery. Local firm <a href="http://www.schneider-schumacher.de/" target="_blank">Schneider Schumacher</a> took the helm with the renovation and visitors are delighted with the revamped space and the energy-efficient facility.

The renovation included an extension placed along the central axis, which works to reinstate the historic spatial arrangement.

The central foyer and all the vertical axis circulation were renovated to provide wheelchair access.

A new special exhibition area was created on the ground floor, while the administration, auditorium, and library were relocated to the west wing.

The star of the renovation though is the new contemporary gallery located in the courtyard, but topped with a bulging green roof.

The garden/roof is dotted with huge round skylights that flood the subterranean gallery with loads of natural daylight.

During the day, the gallery space is infused with an even natural glow and at night the interior lights shine out through the portholes on the roof.

Visitors can freely walk on the round skylights and lounge in the garden.

In addition, the museum underwent energy efficiency upgrades and makes use of a large heat storage capacity to create an optimal room climate with minimal energy consumption.

As the <a href="http://www.schneider-schumacher.de/" target="_blank">jury noted in their citation</a>, "Frankfurt is given not only a distinctive and unique exhibition space, but a state of the art green building too."

Visitors enjoy the garden on opening weekend.

Residents of Frankfurt flock to the museum upon its reopening.

Model of the museum and the green roof dome garden.