2012 saw the first phase of main­ten­ance for Erwin Heerich’s walk-in sculp­tures at Insel Hombroich with the resto­ra­tion of the Kassen­haus (Ticket Office), the Schnecke (Snail) and the Tadeusz-Pavillon (Tadeusz Pavilion). Thanks to extensive funding from the federal govern­ment, the federal state of NRW and other backers, this was followed up by a compre­hen­sive ecolo­gical restruc­tu­ring of the museum in 2021. Since then, an under­ground geothermal field and a concealed technical centre have paved the way for sustainable energy on the island and are soon to be joined by a photo­vol­taic system.

Another phase of the resto­ra­tion was completed in summer 2024 with the reopening of the Labyrinth with a comple­tely over­hauled venti­la­tion and heating concept and a glass roof designed specially for Hombroich. The gentle natural light now illu­mi­nates the artworks in a way that is virtually free of UV radiation and gives off far less heat. The same energy-efficient refur­bish­ment for the Zwölf-Räume-Haus (Twelve-Room House) is also scheduled for comple­tion in summer 2026.

You can keep track of the latest progress of the resto­ra­tion on the Stiftung Insel Hombroich grounds here.

Status report: 23 February 2026

In the museum

Zwölf-Räume Haus
The pavilion has been overbuilt with a protec­tive roof and this area will be used by the contractor once work has been completed. Scaf­fol­ding has been erected around the building and the glass under the roof has now been removed comple­tely. All pipes for the wall cooling/heating inside the building were laid last autumn and plas­te­ring is finished except for the final lime layer. The resto­ra­tion work is scheduled for comple­tion in June 2026.

Cafeteria
The switch from gas to geothermal heating has been completed, meaning that the building is now operated entirely using sustainable energy sources. Work has begun replacing the fogged glass on the first section of the façade. This is quite a challenge because the cafeteria is still open for business and because the 45-degree angle of the glass makes it necessary to develop a new profile archi­tec­ture.

Minor limi­ta­tions in using the pavilion can be expected up until the end of March 2026, after which new, energy-efficient glazing will be installed here too.

Atelier­haus
The flat roof of Gotthard Graubner’s former home and studio needed to be repaired due to moisture damage. This work has now been completed except for the reno­va­tion of the walls in the interior. After this, the building will be available to house new exhi­bi­tions from the coll­ec­tion.

Hohe Galerie
This Erwin Heerich sculpture had to be closed because its glass roof was leaking. We expect the roof to be replaced and the damp walls treated in summer 2026, after which the building will be open again.

At the Raketenstation

Archive building
The walk-in sculpture designed by Erwin Heerich was refur­bished exten­si­vely last year. There is now a photo­vol­taic system on the inner courtyard side of the roof, which is not visible from outside and which supplies the entire building with energy. The interior fittings, including a new floor, were adapted to the needs of the archive work.

The huge number of archive records and library stocks have now been returned to their original location. All workspaces have been moved down into a central office space. At the time of writing, the new quaran­tine room is being set up and the final step will be to move the coll­ec­tion works that are not on display in the museum into the small depot area.

The building will be open to visitors again for the Archive Day on 7 March 2026.

One Man House
This entirely wooden building was newly insulated and renovated inside. The beam cons­truc­tion was cleaned, partially replaced and sanded down. As soon as the weather gets a little warmer, a protec­tive layer of white wood glaze will be added. But the first guest artists will also be moving in during this time.

Completed projects

Labyrinth: The largest exhi­bi­tion pavilion in the museum opened in summer 2024 after being renovated exten­si­vely – with a comple­tely over­hauled venti­la­tion and heating concept and a glass roof designed specially for Hombroich. The gentle natural light now illu­mi­nates the artworks in a way that is virtually free of UV radiation and gives off far less heat.

Kassen­haus: In 2017, this entrance building to the museum was given a new standing seam roof and its floor was over­hauled. At the same time, the rooms were divided up as they are today and new furnis­hings added.

Tadeusz-Pavillon: In 2015, the building was reopened with an energy-efficient glass roof and a new wall heating and venti­la­tion system. A first geothermal well was drilled and provides the pavilion and the Schnecke (Snail) with geothermal heating.

Schnecke: This building, which houses the graphic coll­ec­tion, was also renovated in 2015 and provided with a new roof and new wall heating. The technical instal­la­tions are contained in an under­floor area right next to this.