Finally a post that I photographed all by myself, here in Stuttgart. Perhaps Stuttgart does not belong to the best known cities of Germany, but we have some pretty excellent architecture to show off! A great example is the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, one of the most visited museums in Germany. Holding a rich stock of paintings and sculptures the main focus of the collection is art of the 20th century.
The Staatsgalerie Stuttgart consists of three buildings that reflect different notions of the function of museum architecture. The oldest part, now referred to as the Alte (old) Staatsgalerie, was opened in 1843. In 1984, the 19th century structure (the interior of which had been significantly altered as a result of damage in World War II and rebuilding in the 1950s) was strikingly enhanced by James Stirling’s major addition: the Neue (new) Staatsgalerie. James Stirling, who was born in Glasgow in 1926 and died in London in 1992, is considered one of the world’s most influential architects in the second half of the 20th century. While the Neue Staatsgalerie continues to reflect the three-wing design of the Alte Staatsgalerie, it also makes the museum itself an object of aesthetic contemplation. Many aspects of the new building pay homage to historical structures from antiquity to classic modernism, and particular emphasis is given to elements of classic museum architecture such as the rotunda and gables. Together, they define the museum as a place that ambiguously and, at times, ironically reflects its own history and significance.
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