A Museum Above the Rails

14:00 - 14:30

In this age of ephemeral architecture, Herzog & de Meuron are pursuing a different mission: to build landmarks capable of becoming firmly rooted in the history of cities. Speaking on stage at Utopian Hours Turin is Wim Walschap, Senior Partner and, from May 2026, CEO of the practice.

At the heart of his talk is M+: Hong Kong’s museum of contemporary visual culture, a 65,000-square-metre project led by Walschap as Partner in Charge.

The museum stands above the Airport Express railway tunnels: rather than concealing them, the design integrates the excavation into a large underground space — the “found space” — which visually unifies the entire building. Clad in light-sensitive ceramic, M+ is an example of architecture designed to stand the test of time.

Basel

Wim Walschap Senior Partner and CEO

Herzog & de Meuron

Senior Partner and CEO of the prestigious international practice Herzog & de Meuron. With a structured and decisive approach, Walschap leads complex teams on global-scale projects, combining design excellence with a profound awareness of construction. Throughout his career, he has led iconic projects such as The Tate Modern Project in London and the M+ museum in Hong Kong, redefining the relationship between architecture and the urban fabric.

How to join this event

Next events