The term kunsthaus is translated as "house of art" and apparently the architect of the building intended it to be both an art gallery and a museum.  The building opened in 1910 on a piece of land donated by a city councilor.  The facade of the building, seen above, featured bas-relief sculptures by Oskar Kiefer.  Over the years the original building was extended.  The Kunsthaus website explains that, "... In 1958 the large, adaptable exhibition gallery which had been planned since 1944 by the Pfister brothers and was financed by Emil G. Bührle was opened. A group of art lovers close to the Bechtler brothers created a foundation in 1965 with the most important collection of works by Alberto Giacometti, to which the artist donated additional pieces. In 1966 Nelly Bär endowed the Werner-Bär gallery, donating a group of sculptures from Rodin to Richier. Thanks to Gustav Zumsteg and the support of a number of patrons and the artist himself the Marc Chagall gallery was created in 1973."

A number of sculptures grace the forecourt of the building including Rodin's "The Gates of Hell" seen below.

On the left below is  "Le Chant des Voyelles,"  by Jacques Lipchitz, and on the right what is described as "Working Model for UNESCO Reclining Figure 1957" by Henry Moore.