Architectural design for the DFB football museum

So far, the truth has only lied on the field. With the new football museum of Germany's football association DFB which is to open in 2014, this is about to change.

 

A futuristic opera? Maybe even a silvery space plane? None of the two - the futuristic building that is to be developed near Königswall in Dortmund's city centre in 2012, is the shell of the DFB football museum. When the architectural design was presented in Dortmund a little while ago, the speculation turned into certainty: If king football, the German's most wonderful non-essential, receives its first temple, things are going big.

 

On the outside, a fassade with hexagonal pieces will dominate the space across from the main station. between Mario Bottas city library and the U-tower, it completes the museum axxis (between the museum for art and art history and the museum Ostwall inside the U) and provides for an additional architectural landmark to the skyline of Dortmund's northern city centre. With the Düsseldorf-based architect's office HPP Hentrich-Petschnigg & Partner, a company from Northrhine-Westphalia is in charge of the project.

 

On the other hand, the DFB central in Frankfurts noble south has to recognise where the heart of football beats: in the Ruhr area. Naturally, more important attractions can be found on the inside: Match-ball and jerseys of the heroes of Bern from 1954, Löw's blue sweater for good luck and of course the championship trophies - more than 10,000 objects shall be displayed in the cabinets by the end of 2014. "Many objects are still in private hand" explains Martin Wörner, project manager for the exhibition area. 

Endspielball WM 1954. Foto (c) DFB Fußballmuseum

"We are currently researching like tracking dogs to be able to show the most important exponats in Dortmund." At the same time, the DFB museum is looking to set a standard with digital presentations. The game is getting faster and faster - a museum cannot stay static this way. And this is how dry material such as tables and statistics shall be presented in an interactive, multimedia and experience-oriented way. Germany's Süddeutsche newspaper commented on the idea as follows: The museum presented itself like "in the real game". The DFB elaborated the concept with the help of 19 sport historians and scientists. Even the things that happen outside of the 90 minutes shall make their entry here, i.e. the social, cultural and economic aspects of the sport.

 

The glass entrance way with Gehry-like inclined surfaces and asymmetries opens up to the forecourt; from the outside, the museum becomes visible from afar with its gigantesque fassade screen. But there is no form without function: The five-part dramaturgy of the exhibition begins on the outside with its phases "Before the game" ( to set the respective emotions), "First Half" (the world of national teams and German football), "Half-time" (coach and tactics), "Second Half" (the world of team football) and "After the game" (play zone).

 

The cost amounting to 36 million euro is divided between DFB and the state of Northrhine-Westphalia. National team sponsor Adidas is sporting some of the costs which can be noticed by the presence of their log in the advertising films. There was hardly any criticism except for the obligatory objection of the taxpayer's association. Even for those who don't like footie (which do not exist in the Ruhr area of course), the museum brings a positive aspect: The barren space between Freistuhl and the station will disappear. Yet along with it also the coach terminal at the north side of the station which is still a low price to pay compared to the great triumph for the city's image.

 

Please go here to see videos of the football museum: DFB Fußballmuseum