The construction of the Zentrum Paul Klee at Schöngrün is a unique opportunity and challenge for the City of Bern. The plans for linking the Centre at the City, district and land area levels will help integrate a new cultural landmark into the City of Bern, generating synergetic effects at all kinds of levels, and resulting in a whole series of advantages in terms of town planning.

Renzo Piano’s architecture, the landscaping and other layout measures in public areas will serve not just to redefine the site and revaluate the surrounding districts. The Zentrum Paul Klee is also a long deserved monument to Paul Klee himself, one that is integrated into current events and sited in the immediate vicinity of various phases of his life.

Layout measures

• Spatial redefinition of the urban landscape around Schöngrün – Schosshalde – Wyssloch – Melchenbühl.
• Environmentally compatible development using public transport.
• Integration into the municipal guidance system for cultural facilities.
• Design enhancement of the streets, paths and squares in the surrounding areas.

The measures planned at Schosshaldenstrasse, Insula dulcamara (formerly Friedhofweg), Ostermundigenstrasse and Laubeggstrasse are shown in detail in the land building regulations.

Planning work allowed building work to commence earlier
Three years after the decision in favour of the Schöngrün site such good progress had been made with the planning and preparation work that construction of the Zentrum Paul Klee could go ahead: On 27 September 2001 the Maurice E. and Martha Müller Foundation was granted approval to commence building work earlier than scheduled by the City of Bern's Building Inspectorate.

Important building preparation work could therefore be done even before final building permission was available:

• Work on developing and setting up the building site.
• Earthworks.
• Road works and civil engineering works, site management.