Bregenz, Austria

Kunsthaus Bregenz

Kunsthaus Bregenz opened in 1997 on the shore of Lake Constance, in a building by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor — a luminous cube of etched glass whose translucent skin diffuses daylight evenly through the galleries. The building is widely regarded as a masterwork of contemporary architecture. KUB is a non-collecting kunsthalle, dedicated entirely to commissioning and presenting new work by leading international contemporary artists, who frequently respond directly to the building's exacting, light-filled spaces. Each exhibition is conceived specifically for the venue. Small in scale but internationally influential, KUB has become a pilgrimage site for those interested in both contemporary art and architecture — a reminder that ambition is not a matter of square footage.