13.07.2008 15:59

Ever since it is open to the public, I wanted to visit Kolumba, the new art museum of the diocese of Cologne. Finally, yesterday I managed to go. It's a building by Peter Zumthor in the city center of Cologne, at the place of the remains of the medieval church St. Kolumba. The church was destroyed in a bomb raid in 1943. After the war a small chapel was constructed in honor of a statue of virgin Mary which survived the bombings almost undamaged.

The new building incorporates both the chapel and the archelogical site of the former church.

The exposition rooms are very simple, all is kept in stone and light grey. Except for once in a while some accents with very beautiful reddish brown wooden panels. There is nothing which is there per accident, the furniture, the entree which lacks the normal busy-museum shop and cashier. But the main point is, that this museum has not been built to be a stylish envelope for some artworks, it has been designed to be part of the exihibition. The collection itself ranges from old scriptures and votive objects to contemperary art and 20eth century commodities. Very fine stuff. And on the plus side goes definitely the fact that they refrained from the usual mediaval section- modern section -contemporary arts floor - fragmentation. Rather styles, types and times are mixed. It is the overall picture which should inspire the visitor.