On the strength of his competition scheme for the Guggenheim Collection in Salzburg, Hans Hollein was invited to design the “Vulcania” museum complex in conjunction with the local Atelier 4 team. The museum is set in the volcanic landscape of the Massif Central. Most of the 4,700 m2 exhibition area – together with two large cinemas – is situated on a number of underground levels. Only the artificial volcanic cone with its dark basalt outer skin is visible from afar above ground. It consists of two 37-metre-high tapering shells offset to each other.