Quasi non Possidentes Palais

The Palais for Contemporary Art – also often called Palais Quasi non Possidentes (Lat.; "as if we were not the owners") after an ambiguous inscription on the house – is a building in the historic city center of Glückstadt in Schleswig-Holstein. It houses the exhibition rooms of a Glückstadt art association. Due to an uncertain financial situation, the house faces closure from 2011 onwards.

The Palais was originally built in the Renaissance style from 1630 to 1631 and was re-designed in Baroque style around 1697. The two-story Palais is oriented with its eaves towards the Glückstadt harbor, and its eight-axis facade is designed with colossal pilasters. At the time of its construction, it stood in direct proximity to the Glückstadt Castle, which was once located here. Inside the building, some features from the 17th and 18th centuries are still present. The floor plan is structured in Baroque style; some doors are arranged en filade. Some of them still have contemporary lintels, others are fitted with Rococo transoms. In some salons, remnants of earlier wall paintings, ceiling stucco, and old ovens are preserved.

After the neighboring castle became increasingly dilapidated, the building served as the seat of the Government Chancellery from 1700 to 1752, then the Wasmer-Palais, also located in Glückstadt, took over this task. The house Quasi non Possidentes came into private ownership. In 1986, the building was restored, and since 2000, it has been the seat of the association "Palais for Contemporary Art". On 500 m² of exhibition space, works by contemporary artists are primarily presented.