Warsaw finds home for delayed modern art museum

Original project for the Museum of Modern Art (artmuseum.pl)

According to the contract sealed on Monday afternoon, the collection will be held near the main train station in a pavilion that until now has been used to display furniture.

The state-owned company which owns the building, Emilia Meble, will loan the site for a three-year-period, as agreed together with the city of Warsaw, the State Treasury and the Museum of Modern of Art.

Last week, it was confirmed that the original project had fallen by the wayside, with the city claiming that Swiss architect Christian Kerez, who won an international competition to build the museum in February 2007, should pay a 7 million zloty penalty (1.6 million euro) for failing to carry out the construction.

Construction at the site was repeatedly delayed, with the city ordering the architect to include a theatre in the project.

The museum, which was set to stand next to the Palace of Culture and Science, an iconic city landmark, was ultimately due to open in 2016.

However, in January 2012, the museum stated that “due to delays in designing works, delays in the metro construction below the future Museum and budgetary limitations of the City of Warsaw,” the completion date was being pushed back.

The city is expected to announce a new competition for the museum over the coming months. (nh)