Case Study:

Zentrum Paul Klee

1999–2005

• Dr. Sara Ismail • Name. Alaa Mosalam

• Arch. Nada
Contents 03 Site Criticism : 05 Aesthetic criticism:

00 Introduction:
a- Site selection a- Geometric aesthetic values

a- About the artist b- Site street network b- Symbolic aesthetic values

b- About the architect c- Land form c- Dynamic aesthetic values

c- About the project
d- Site main axis

01 Concept Aims: e- Site analysis

f- Sensory elements
1- Symbolic Aims
g- Building and architecture character
2- Social Aims
06 Landscape criticism:
3- Functional Aims

4- Economic Aims a- Design simplicity

02 Concept Creativity Criticism:

04 Function Criticism: b- Obviousness of the landscape elements

c- Landscaping spatial expression that assure

a- Functional concept a- Entrances determinations and hierarchy
hierarchy of the buildings importance
b- Design formation concept b- Functional relationships
d- Achieving the functional landscaping
c- Philosophical concept c- Gathering nodes, Spaces elements.

d- Symbolic concept d- Horizontal circulations e- Landscaping aesthetics

e- Structural concept e-Vertical circulations

f- Environmental concept f- Services

g- Smartness- digital concept g- Firing Exits

0- Introduction
 about the artist
Paul Klee is one of the most influential artists of the twentieth
century. His works, timeless and heterogeneous, still talk and
remain on the cutting edge even with the passage of time.

The Swiss artist is noted for going beyond a single genre, and
instead was left to bring their concerns in search of what you
want. His figurative and abstract paintings in watercolor and
oil paintings are his best legacy. His way of portraying and
presenting his vision of things is simple and it makes it
attractive to the eye of common onlooker.

But his work was not reduced only to painting and drawing,
but also Klee ventured into music, writing, philosophy, and
education.

In order to build a museum in memory and honor the most

important Swiss artist, and generate a cultural center for the
city was projected that this museum has more than 40% of
the total work of Klee (donated by his daughter Livia ).

The work was entrusted to the renowned architect Renzo

Piano. Klee is known for his simple stick figures, suspended
fish, moon faces, eyes, arrows, and quilts of color, which he
orchestrated into fantastic and childlike yet deeply meditative
works.
 about the architect
Renzo Piano has become known as a prolific, Italian
architect capable of achieving a masterful balance between
art, architecture and engineering. His intellectual curiosity
and problem-solving techniques have led him to develop a
wide-ranging portfolio that successfully merges high
technology with humane and comfortable environments.
Sophisticated, refined and elegant, the presence of Renzo
Piano’s work is internationally celebrated.

Originally born into a family of Italian builders. Piano’s

interest in technology and modern solutions to architectural
problems was evident in all his designs, although he
increasingly took greater account of the structure’s context.

The Genoese architect is world-renowned works of the

utmost importance, and its main characteristic is detected
to know the essence of place, genius loci, and work towards
it. Like Klee, Piano is not tied to an idea or preconception.
His works are varied in terms of morphology, materials, and
final image. His vision is broad and comprehensive, not only
seeks to address a building, if not a better space and power
to intervene and assist in urban area.

In an interview he did, Renzo Piano said, “Being an architect

is best in the world because, on this small planet, where
there is nothing more to discover, design is one of the few
adventures left.”
Zentrum Paul Klee,
1- Concept Aims
 1-Symbolic Aims :
-CONCEPT AIMS-

• The idea was to create the piano more than a museum. Klee and was
much more than a painter, the architect felt the need to create more
than one building; cause sensations, a pleasant experience, and a delight
for the audience were the target.

• The irony and tragedy is often blended with innocent images in the
works of Klee. The depth and complexity combined with a simple
stamp.

• Paul Klee is one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.
His works, timeless and heterogeneous, still talk and remain on the
cutting edge even with the passage of time.

• In order to build a museum in memory and honor the most important

Swiss artist, and generate a cultural center for the city was projected that
this museum has more than 40% of the total work of Klee.

This project was created to stabilize the artist's imprint. 1

/1
 -CONCEPT AIMS-

2-Social Aims :
• A principal task of the Zentrum Paul Klee is to ensure that the artistic,
pedagogic and theoretical work of Paul Klee as well as its significance within
the cultural and social context of its time, is scientifically developed and
communicated through different channels and media.

• By posing topical questions, new scientific interpretations and innovative

forms of communication, the Zentrum Paul Klee aims to bring Paul Klee’s
artistic potential into the present.

• Visitors are able to gather stimulating experiences and discoveries. This

should motivate to a more intense understanding of Klee’s work and
personality, artistic insight in general and to each individual’s cultural life.

• Another basic idea was also to make the museum not a place of silence, but
a place of encounters, rest and pleasure, presenting Klee’s multifaceted Ness
as a painter, musician, teacher, writer and philosopher.

• Each hill is devoted to a particular aspect: the northern hill is devoted to the
practical mediation of art, music, lectures and workshops; the central hill is
devoted to the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions; and the
southern hill is devoted to research and administration.
The northern hill The central hill The southern hill

By displaying his works permanently so that his fans 1

can visit the place and appreciate all his works. /1
 List Points
1-Symbolic Aims 1

Concept Aims 2-Social Aims

3- Functional Aims
1

4- Economic Aims 0

Total 2/4
2- Concept Creativity
 -CONCEPT CRITICISM-

2- Design formation concept

The architect designed three hills. Three waves that rise and from the ground.
With different dimensions, the three waves traverse the ground like a sculpture
or the result of the same nature.

The project formation using technology to generate the

1
shape to give the suitable optimization.
/1
 -CONCEPT CRITICISM-

• As a «Life line» of our civilization it would be properly integrated into the project and
find its aesthetic-functional echo here. It is very different at the back of the building: in
order that the unity of nature and the architecture is not disturbed, it was also his explicit
wish that the area around the building should be used as farm land and not converted
into a park.

• The entire complex is parallel to the highway and takes the shape of the curve. The
design is subtle and expressive, sensual in its ranks. The functions are hidden in the
interior and the unusual image of the museum is intriguing and striking.

• However, by burying much of the museum and build an embankment of wheat and
poppies in front, the building is even more hidden and scale seems considerably
diminished.

The project shows the creativity of the artist in his works that mixed with
1
the appreciation of the architect to the artist, also affecting the fans of this
/1
kind of art and the fans of the artist to gather in harmonious place.
 -CONCEPT CRITICISM-

The Process of creating the form:

• From the outset it was clear to Piano that the artist Paul Klee has «a too broad,
too large breath», for him to be locked up into a «normal building». For the vision
of his own work Renzo Piano allowed himself to be inspired by the identity of the
place, the gently curved line of the terrain. That the motorway was also there, with
a deep cut abruptly restricting the building site, did not disturb him.

• As if it were sculptor’s clay, the building has been shaped and thereby
transformed into a part of the area’s topography. This desire to meld into the
landscape without interfering with it derives from the interpretation of Klee’s
work, that is essentially silent and peaceful.

The project embraced the environment with the artist’s 1

works to give quite symbolic touch for the users. /1
5- Structure Concept:
-CONCEPT CRITICISM-

• The design of the Zentrum Paul Klee is characterized by the structure of

corrugated steel deck. These beams have the curves of any complexity is equal to
the other as the wave extends from the front to the back next to where you lose
ground, and each “wave” has a different height. It is estimated that the entire
building were used for beams 4.2kms.

• The geometry of the building so special is the fact that the section of the steel
arches is slightly tilted, but always in different angles.

• The arches are tensioned by a compression stanchions directly integrated into the
structure of the roof to prevent the arches bend backwards. The ends of the steel
arches are compressed together using ligatures which are connected to the ground
and the floor slabs to prevent the arches from sliding steel base.

• Each of the curved steel beams, with different weights, has been constructed Auditorium - Steel construction - Section edge beams
individually.

The structure of corrugated steel deck

 -CONCEPT CRITICISM-

5- Structure Concept:
• The individual sections were first cut from large sheets of
metal using a cutting machine controlled by computer.
Then shaped its final form and eventually welded together.
The strong curvature of the steel beams that prevented
welding process could be done by machines, which means
that more than 40 km have been welded together by hand.

large sheets of metal

• The structure is covered, along with the foundations and

facade were simulated by computer 3D models and
analyzed by many experts.

The project structure that holding the place without any 1

columns in the inside /1
 List Point
a- Functional Concept 0

Concept Criticism
b- Design Formation Concept 1
c- Philosophical Concept 1
d- Symbolic Concept 1
e- Structural Concept 1
f- Environmental Concept 0
g- Digital Concept 0
Total 4/7
3- Site Criticism
 1- Site selection :
-SITE CRITISIM-

Before the construction:

• Bern, Switzerland’s capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage site,

added a new landmark in 2005: The Zentrum Paul Klee.

• Not very far from the cemetery where Paul Klee is buried and just a
few kilometers from the city of Bern, this museum has been
designed as a tribute to the Swiss artist and to his oeuvre.

The pattern of landscape:

1- Site selection :
-SITE CRITISIM-
Christophorus School Bern Sculptured park
Paul Klee

Luft-Station

Teiche und Findlinge

ZPK Park

Main Street

The project achieved the site selection criteria such as the

0.5
suitable of the project in the land and the adequacy Institut für Weiterbildung and
of the site for land use but not it waste in some of the land. / 1 Dienstleistungen PHBern
2- Site Streets Network:
-SITE CRITISIM-

Main Street

Secondary Street
Potential Access

Main Entrance

Secondary Entrance

Main site

Station

Potential Access
Potential Access

Potential for safe crossing

The project connected successfully with the surrounding 1

paths. /1
 -SITE CRITISIM-

3- Land form:

Atrium Exhibition space Access Entrances

The project distributes the functional elements well on 1

site without wastage. /1
4- Site Main Axis :
-SITE CRITISIM-

The axis lead to the project directly and the entrances is 1

obviously clear. /1
5- Site Analysis :
-SITE CRITISIM-

Sketches of the sunlight movements:

Wind Direction

Sun Path
5- Site Analysis :
-SITE CRITISIM-

Solar Coverage to the space : Climate Analysis

Wind circulation through the

building

The project respect the topography of the site and study 1

the motion of the sun to set the orientation of space right. /1
6- Sensory Elements :
-SITE CRITISIM-

Green Hills Area

Parking

Main Road

The project rhymes with the surroundings without feeling 0.5

the noise. /1
 List Point
a- Site selection 0.5

SITE CRITISIM
b- Site street network 1
c- Land form 1
d- Site main axis 1
e- Site analysis 1
f- Sensory elements 0.5
g- Building and architecture 0
character
Total 5/7
4- Function Criticism
 -FUNCTIONCRITISIM-

1- Entrances determinations
and hierarchy:

The visibility of the main and secondary entrances of the 1

buildings and the project entries are well distributed.
/1
 -FUNCTIONCRITISIM-

2- Functional Relations:

The suitability of the functional spaces areas and its design 1

to perform the intended functions.
/1
 -FUNCTIONCRITISIM-
3- Gathering nodes, Spaces:

Administration area

The suitability of the gathering spaces and its design to the 1

performed functions.
/1
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/klee/hd_klee.htm
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Renzo-Piano

https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/paul-klee-zentrum/