Extension of the Syke District Museum

During preliminary archaeological investigations for the construction of the North European Gas Pipeline (NEL), a treasure trove of gold was recovered not far from the town of Syke (Gessel district) in 2011. The so-called Gessel gold hoard comprises a total of 117 individual pieces. Due to the rare scientific excavation, the 3,300-year-old find is one of the most important Bronze Age artifacts in Central Europe. In order to adequately present the Gessel gold hoard, the district of Diepholz sought to build an extension to the Syke District Museum, which has existed since 1937.



In the realization competition held in 2016, the design by Freitag Hartmann Architekten emerged as the winner for the construction of the Forum Gesseler Goldhort. The resulting new building stands out with its monolithic cubature and striking surface. On the one hand, the 18m high structure stands out from the existing building thanks to its independent design and material language. On the other hand, its positioning, scale and color scheme allow it to blend naturally into the ensemble of buildings. The new Forum Gesseler Goldhort opened its doors to visitors in October 2020.



Open spaces:



A mixed beech forest borders the new museum building to the north. To the southwest, the view opens up over a gently sloping meadow to the Hache stream. In between, the newly designed open spaces blend harmoniously into the existing topography. The new building opens onto a terrace on the south side, which is accessed via a ramp. The small stone paving made of robust light and dark gray granite is based on the iridescent brick façade of the neighboring building. A row of seating block elements and two stepped hedges of copper beech and field maple on the old side of the building cushion the difference in height. Furthermore, planting groups of shrubs and grasses complement the surrounding lawns and form a gentle transition to the adjacent forest.