Swiss National Museum
Sitting just north of Zürich's main train station, the Swiss National Museum is a striking collision of late 19th-century castle-like architecture and a bold contemporary concrete extension added in 2016. The contrast between the turreted historic building and the angular modern wing gives you rich compositional material to work with. Shoot the facade from across the Platzspitz park to get the full silhouette reflected in the river, or move in close to isolate the interplay between old stone and new concrete. The interior courtyard and the dramatic atrium of the new wing reward a wide angle lens, where the geometric lines and diffused natural light create strong graphic compositions. Overcast days are ideal here since direct sun creates harsh shadows on the textured facades, while blue hour adds a warm glow to the illuminated windows. The museum is steps from Zürich HB, making it effortless to reach. (Zürich, Switzerland)
