Wreath and Ribbons, Happy Signs ... Topping-out ceremony at new House for Art

Munich, 23 July 2008, (kk) - In what will probably soon be the world’s most cutting-edge auction room, more than twenty journalists and a hundred guests today joined Robert Ketterer, who commissioned the building, in celebrating the completion of construction work on schedule.

Before the official festivities at Joseph-Wild-Strasse 18 in Munich-Riem, the auctioneer and owner of Ketterer Kunst personally conducted a guided tour through the impressive building and deftly fielded questions from the media representatives to give detailed answers.
“This is a very important day for me because I’d like to express my grateful thanks with this party to all those who have made this building rise in such a short time. Something like this is only possible when brains, hearts and craftsmanly skills work, as it were, hand in hand,” thus Robert Ketterer, before following up his words with culinary deeds.

The topping-out toast honoured not only the workmen and planners but also the commitment shown by the man who commissioned it: “A work as fine as this demonstrates the good sense and lofty spirit that Robert Ketterer commanded in designing this auction house,” thus Sven Weidlich, construction manager at Leitner.

Afterwards the guests indulged in crunchy pretzels served with a savoury Bavarian cheese spread, crispy chicken turned on the spit and, to top it all off, a choice of classic Crème bavaroise or Tiramisù made with Bavarian top-brewed beer. This opulent Bavarian feast was accompanied by music played by “De Ausrangierten”, a brass band from Oberaudorf. Charming visual effects were provided by the “Art Girls”, who functioned, so to speak, as living signposts ushering guests and media representatives to their seats before the event.

The building project will be completed in the next few months. A state-of-the-art auction room, generous exhibition space, a lounge with a readers’ corner, a coffee bar with cosmopolitan ambience and what is probably the world’s largest art display window at 8 metres in height and 23 metres across will all be ready by the inaugural auction early in December. The Munich architecture practice Franz + Sacher designed the building. And what is so fantastic about it: an ultra-sophisticated lighting concept ensures that the new Munich temple to the arts, including its underground garage, will be shown in the right light.

Some € 1.5 million were earmarked for the building engineering alone, which Zickler + Jakob have planned on environmentally friendly lines. The air conditioning, for instance, can be adjusted from room to room. An ecologically sound geothermal heat pump system using the ground-water will keep the building cool in summer and a low-temperature water boiler will heat it in winter using ground-source water. Hence the energy balance will remain as close to neutral as possible.

Nor have the children been forgotten. The grown-ups will be at leisure to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the art while their offspring are being given a hands-on introduction to art by inspiring teachers.

Press enquiries:
Ketterer Kunst
Prinzregentenstraße 61
81675 Munich
Michaela Derra
Telephone: +49 (0)89-55244-152 (Fax: -166)
E-mail: m.derra@kettererkunst.de

Client enquiries:
Ketterer Kunst
Prinzregentenstraße 61
81675 Munich
Telephone: +49 (0)89-55244-0
Fax: +49 (0)89-55244-166
E-mail: info@kettererkunst.de
www.kettererkunst.com

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in art and rare books with headquarters in the Prinz Alfons Palais in Munich and a branch in Hamburg. Gallery rooms in Berlin as well as representatives in Heidelberg, Krefeld and New York have contributed substantially to our success. Ketterer Kunst has further rounded off its portfolio by acquiring the prestigious Ernest Rathenau Verlag, New York/Munich.

This release was published on openPR.