The Neue Pinakothek in Munich is scheduled to reopen at the end of 2029. Bernhard Maaz, General Director of the Bavarian State Painting Galleries, announced this date at a press conference in Munich. It was originally expected to reopen in 2025.
The new museum building, which is primarily dedicated to European art of the 19th century, was opened in 1981. It has been closed since January 2019 for general renovation. In particular, fire protection, air conditioning and security technology were no longer up to date, and the roofs were now so dilapidated that water was seeping into the exhibition rooms. Materials containing asbestos must also be removed.
According to the current plan, the building authority will hand over the completely renovated building to the museum staff in the first quarter of 2029. It seems uncertain whether the air conditioning technology will already be in place at this point. This can take weeks. Stable humidity and temperature are essential for museum operations. Only when this is correct should the works of art move into the house.
Even if there are no further delays in the construction process, the museum will only have a few months to furnish the exhibition halls. Maaz thinks this is feasible and refers to his experience with museum renovations, which he gained years ago in Berlin and Dresden. “I assume that we will be able to reopen the Neue Pinakothek at the end of 2029,” emphasized Maaz.