Main Architecture and Design Paneum, or the Kunstkammer of Bread Wonders

Paneum, or the Kunstkammer of Bread Wonders

COOP HIMMELB(L)AU completed the PANEUM – Wunderkammer des Brotes (Asten, Austria, 2014–2017), Customer Information Center and Event Forum with adjoining Contemporary Wunderkammer – the first wooden building in free form. The PANEUM with its “Wunderkmmer des Brotes” is the first institution in Austria to take on the topic of bread. It celebrates bread and brings its history to life through the exhibition of 1200 objects from 9000 years. At the same time, the PANEUM is a place where the future of bread can be discussed, researched and contemplated.

The rectangular base building forms the foundation of the PANEUM and contains the customer information center and event forum for up to 120 guests. The adjoining “Wunderkammer des Brotes” is a two storey free form exhibition area floating on top.

The “Wunderkammer des Brotes” is designed as a contemporary Wunderkammer in which the objects are flowing on the walls, hanging from the ceiling and hanging in the eye of the atrium, as in a differentiated crystal chandelier.

The chosen materials augment the contrast of these two elements: The square base building shows a cast-in-place concrete façade while the rounded wood structure of the museum is clad with stainless steel shingles.

The first Austrian Museum of bread, it bears the beautiful name “Paneum” (from the Latin “pane” for bread), is one of the recent construction of the well-known international architecture office COOP HIMMELB(L)AU. And already, the sky-blue, emphasizes design of the of Wolf D. Prix, CEO of COOP HIMMELB(L)AU: “The building is definitely not a bread. It should not be dough. Rather, it looks like a cloud.”

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