Allessandro Mendini, 1988-1994 Groningen In the eighties, the Groninger Museum could turn its thoughts to a new building thanks to a gift from the local Gas Company. After a lot of political bantering it was decided to site it on an island to be built in the turning basin of the Verbindingskanaal, opposite the station. Gasunie expected its donation to produce an exemplary monument of international standing. However, the council desired top architectural quality but nothing arresting enough to clash