Construction of the Archaeological Museum in Rostock: costs explode to 85 million!

Construction of the Archaeological Museum in Rostock: costs explode to 85 million!

The Archaeological State Museum in Rostock will be more expensive than originally planned. Current cost estimates now amount to around 85 million euros, after the original calculations were around 45 million euros. This is reported by the star. The high cost increase results from an increased construction cost index, general price increases in the construction industry and higher material and energy costs, which are partly caused by the Ukraine conflict.

Construction is scheduled for the second half of 2026, with building construction expected to begin a year later. The planned completion of the museum is generally expected by the end of 2030, but here too the opening remains uncertain as it depends on the approval of a new bridge project over the Warnow. Alternative locations for the museum have also been intensively examined, such as Northern Courier supplemented.

Intended use and design

The Archaeological State Museum will be built in Rostock's city harbor. A total area of ​​3,620 square meters is planned, of which 1,850 square meters are intended for exhibitions. The museum will also house a conference area and a café. The winning design comes from the Danish-German architectural team Lundgaard & Tranberg, which is described as “powerful, calm and persistent”. The building will have a bunker-like shape and will be constructed of brick with generous vertical window openings, it is reported Rostock today.

What is particularly noteworthy is that a walk-out roof terrace will offer an unparalleled view of the water and the northern old town. In addition, part of the city harbor will be filled up to create enough space for the new museum. The jury that led the architectural design competition unanimously chose the design on February 16, 2022, after over 50 applications were submitted from various European countries.

Financing and future prospects

The total costs for the new building have been adjusted repeatedly in recent months. A financing share of 40 million euros from the state and 15 million euros from the city is currently assumed. If there are further increases, the state will cover the additional costs, while the city may be able to make a financial contribution if there is demonstrable added value for city society.

After the cancellation of the Federal Garden Show 2025, the responsible authorities have agreed to consider five major projects, including the Archaeological State Museum and the Warnow Bridge, as focal points. As the discussions surrounding the construction phase show, the implementation of this project will continue to be associated with challenges.