A sanctuary for one painting: Anselm Kiefer pavilion by David Chipperfield Architects

In Künzelsau, southern Germany, David Chipperfield Architects has designed a pavilion dedicated to a single artwork: Anselm Kiefer’s Schwarze Flocken (2007), inspired by a poem by Holocaust survivor Paul Celan. Opened on October 13th, 2026, the building creates an intimate encounter between architecture, poetry and historical memory, giving the monumental painting its first public display.

Architecture shaped by art

Located in the sculpture garden of Museum Würth 2, within the Carmen Würth Forum cultural centre, the pavilion occupies a gentle rise at the south-western edge of the grounds. Its monolithic silhouette, bush-hammered concrete walls and projecting canopy echo the surrounding architecture while maintaining a distinct sculptural presence.

Measuring 11 metres high and 7.1 metres wide, Schwarze Flocken is the largest work by Kiefer in the Würth Collection. Its scale had previously prevented it from being exhibited. Developed in close collaboration with the artist, the pavilion’s proportions, openings and wall colours respond directly to the painting.

Inside, exposed timber roof beams and rooflights temper the space with shifting natural daylight. Three-layer walls of concrete, brickwork and clay plaster regulate the interior climate without active climate control. Every detail supports a single aim: allowing the painting to command attention without architectural distraction.

Anselm Kiefer, Paul Celan and historical memory

The title Schwarze Flocken (Black Flakes) refers to a 1944 poem by Paul Celan, written after his return from forced labour and news of his parents’ deaths in the Holocaust. His mother was shot, while his father died of typhus in a Transnistrian camp.

Drawing on the poem’s wintry imagery and grief, Kiefer evokes a landscape steeped in loss, reflecting his enduring engagement with historical trauma and collective memory. The pavilion’s solid walls, carefully placed openings and shifting daylight create a quiet setting for the painting.

The opening reception on October 12th welcomed Kiefer, Reinhold Würth and Germany’s Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer. David Chipperfield reflected on his longstanding collaboration with the Würth Group and its founder’s vision of a cultural campus where art is part of everyday life.