Pool Leber Architekten and Bleckmann Krys Architekten have combined 14th and 16th century structures, with modern concrete and brick volumes to create the Kult museum.
Designed as both a cultural hub and museum for the town of Vreden, Germany, Kult has 1,400 square metres of space for a permanent collection.

The 5,950-square-metre complex also houses a temporary exhibition space, the district's artistic administration offices, local archives, educational spaces and a city market and shops.
"The centre aims to walk the delicate line between sensitively integrating itself in the medieval heritage and establishing a contemporary landmark that actively contributes to Vreden's cultural and social life," said Pool Leber Architekten and Bleckmann Krys Architekten.
Conceived as an internal part of a cultural route that leads from the centre of Vreden and across the river Berkel, Kult consists of four existing structures and two new forms, overlooking the river.
Two of these existing structures date from the 14th and 16th century, while the other two dating from the 1970s and 1980s were the former home of the Hamland Museum.

"To preserve the legibility of the historical layers, the facades are subtly shifted and detailed to recall the original styles," explained the architecture studios. "Different blocks are clad with local bricks that gently change in colour shade."

Inside, this more "rural" character is peeled away to reveal bare con...