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Architecture
The enormous admiration and appreciation that Giovanni Segantini and his art enjoyed in many parts of Europe found expression in the construction of a museum dedicated to his works. The Segantini Museum was opened in St. Moritz in 1908, nine years after the artist’s death. The driving force behind the idea was St. Moritz physician, Oskar Bernhard, Segantini’s friend and patron.
The imposing central part of the building positioned on the steep mountainside overlooking Lake St. Moritz points eastwards towards the Schafberg mountain, where Segantini died. The architect, Nicolaus Hartmann (1880–1956), based his design on the monumental pavilion that Segantini had created to house his Engadine Panorama at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900. The building with its mighty dome looks like a mausoleum, an impressive, accessible memorial.
In 1947, Hartmann drew up various projects to expand the museum, which however were not realized. In 1981, a narrow, semi-circular exhibition room was added at the rear of the building.
Expansion 1999
To mark the centenary of Segantini’s death in 1998/99, the museum was completely renovated and further extended by architect Hans-Jörg Ruch. Besides installing state-of-the-art air-conditioning and security systems, further modifications were made to meet the needs of a modern-day museum, including securing wheelchair access, adding a lift, creating storerooms and extending the foyer on the first floor. In the domed room, the Alpine Triptych was not only rehung, but placed in front of an umbra-colored jute fabric covered wall, emulating the original color. The completely redesigned, semi-circular exhibition room at the rear of the building was equipped with overhead lighting throughout, thus providing optimal conditions for presenting the works of art.
Expansion 2019
The most recent renovation and expansion of the museum took place in the summer and autumn of 2019. A small, new visitors’ café, a multi-purpose room for working with students, holding meetings and restoration work as well as new storage rooms were created. The lighting, heating/cooling and security systems were also modernized.