Pinakothek der Moderne

The Pinakothek der Moderne stands in Munich’s Kunstareal, a district known for its concentration of cultural institutions. The building, designed by Stephan Braunfels, opened in 2002 after a decade of construction. Its rectilinear shape is clad in white and grey concrete, with large windows and tall columns supporting a wide canopy. Four wings radiate from a central domed rotunda, each dedicated to a different discipline: art, architecture, design, and works on paper. The first floor’s art galleries use computer-controlled lighting to maintain even, shadowless illumination over grey floors and white walls. The museum brings together four major collections under one roof. The Sammlung Moderne Kunst holds works from Expressionism to Minimal Art, including pieces by Picasso, Beckmann, Kirchner, and Kandinsky. The Neue Sammlung displays applied art, with over 70,000 objects ranging from chairs by Michael Thonet to computer design. The Staatliche Graphische Sammlung shows drawings by Dürer, Rembrandt, and Matisse alongside modern works. The Architekturmuseum holds models and blueprints by architects such as Le Corbusier and Balthasar Neumann. Visitors find spacious galleries arranged by discipline, each wing offering a distinct experience. The art collection fills the first floor, with early modernists on the west side and contemporary works on the east. The design collection occupies the basement, showcasing furniture, jewellery, and industrial objects. The works on paper galleries present rotating exhibitions of drawings and prints. The architecture museum displays rotating shows of models and photographs. A permanent exhibition in the basement features loans from the Danner Jewelry Collection.