July 18 2013

Gareth Hoskins Architects are celebrating after making a three strong shortlist to renovate and extend a 17th century German Castle - in collaboration with Buro Happold and Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

Located on the Danish border at Schleswig, Gottorf Castle sits on its own island and houses a number of important collections; including The National Museum of Art and History and the National Archaeological Museum.

These require extensive upgrade and expansion however and lack a custom built visitor centre, prompting the Gottorf Foundation to stage an anonymous international design competition for a €19m masterplan.

This drew 44 entries from across Europe, eight of whom were selected in addition to four others nominated by the Foundation itself.

These practices were invited to the island in order to draw up more detailed plans with Hoskins impressing sufficiently to make the final three – alongside Holzer Kobler Architects of Zurich and Hg merz architekten of Stuttgart.

Hoskins’ proposal for the complex of listed buildings entails inserting new build extensions into this mix together with a landscape strategy for the island itself and reinstating period features such as a baroque staircase.

Dr. Claus von Carnap-Bornheim, executive director of the Gottorf Foundation, commented: "Please do not be alarmed at the sight of one or another draft or get too excited about one or another idea, we are at the beginning of a hugely important process.

“All of these designs give us great suggestions and ideas. We will now invite the representatives of the three selected consultants back to Schleswig to look more closely at their designs.”

All three schemes are on display within the castle until 4 August with the intent being to declare a winner by the autumn and develop a full master plan before the end of 2014.

Post your comments

Your name (required)
Your email (not displayed)
Comments (required)
	All comments are pre-moderated and must obey our house rules.