Archiv der Avantgarden – staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden (Archive of the avant-garde – Dresden State Art Collections)

The Blockhaus building in Dresden – a striking building located directly on the River Elbe and in close proximity of the historical centre – was initially built in 1732.

During the course of its history the building has undergone many changes, such as being reconstructed and used once again after sustaining substantial damage in the Second World War. Today, it houses an innovative project covering a floor space of around 2,000 m², with the goal of making the archive of the Marzona Collection accessible to both experts and the general public. 

A central design element of the project is a floating cube made out of solid concrete which houses the archive. This modern feature leaves the surrounding areas free and allows for flexible use of the building for public events, exhibitions, workshops and conferences. The floating concrete cube becomes the symbolic centrepiece that retains the past as an indispensable part of the present.

The concept of the project addresses the link between history and progress.

Through this innovative approach, the Blockhaus building becomes a place for dialogue – where artistic and architectural traditions are translated into the present and are interpreted in a new way.

OBO Bettermann was able to contribute to this extraordinary project with products from its cable support systems, underfloor systems and cable routing systems. In fact, the special heights of the lined body in the exposed concrete were made possible by the selection of OBO cassettes.