Architecture

Kistefos Museum has a twist in its story

Kistefos Museum has a twist in its story
The Kistefos Museum has a 90-degree twist at its center
The Kistefos Museum has a 90-degree twist at its center
View 20 Images
The Kistefos Museum has a 90-degree twist at its center
1/20
The Kistefos Museum has a 90-degree twist at its center
The twisted section of the building means that it is shaped like a vertical rectangle at one end and horizontal one at the other
2/20
The twisted section of the building means that it is shaped like a vertical rectangle at one end and horizontal one at the other
The twisted section changes the height and level of the building from end to end
3/20
The twisted section changes the height and level of the building from end to end
Visitors enter the museum through a triple height space at the southern end of the building
4/20
Visitors enter the museum through a triple height space at the southern end of the building
The museum is part building and part bridge
5/20
The museum is part building and part bridge
Visitors will have a clear view from one end of the museum to the other
6/20
Visitors will have a clear view from one end of the museum to the other
Inside the museum, a staircase is built into the twisted section
7/20
Inside the museum, a staircase is built into the twisted section
At one end of the museum, the glazing acts a huge skylight, before itself being twisted around and becoming a side-facing window
8/20
At one end of the museum, the glazing acts a huge skylight, before itself being twisted around and becoming a side-facing window
The exhibits inside are described by Bjarke Ingels as "an interior extension of the promenade through the Sculpture Park"
9/20
The exhibits inside are described by Bjarke Ingels as "an interior extension of the promenade through the Sculpture Park"
The addition of electrical solar shading will mean the gallery will be able to morph between being sky-lit, side-lit or dark
10/20
The addition of electrical solar shading will mean the gallery will be able to morph between being sky-lit, side-lit or dark
There will be spaces for meeting within the building
11/20
There will be spaces for meeting within the building
Full-width glazing spans one of the building's shorter dimensions
12/20
Full-width glazing spans one of the building's shorter dimensions
The full-width glazing will allow lots of natural light into the building
13/20
The full-width glazing will allow lots of natural light into the building
“We were instantly fascinated by the dramatic landscape of Kistefos – the winding river, forested riverbanks and the steep topography," says Bjarke Ingels
14/20
“We were instantly fascinated by the dramatic landscape of Kistefos – the winding river, forested riverbanks and the steep topography," says Bjarke Ingels
The twisted section of the building will hang over the Randselva river
15/20
The twisted section of the building will hang over the Randselva river
The building acts as a second bridge in the sculpture park, forming a continuous loop across both riverbanks
16/20
The building acts as a second bridge in the sculpture park, forming a continuous loop across both riverbanks
With the vertical end of the building stood on the lower bank, the twist at the building's center raises the floor-level to sit on the higher opposing river bank
17/20
With the vertical end of the building stood on the lower bank, the twist at the building's center raises the floor-level to sit on the higher opposing river bank
The 1,400 sq m (15,100 sq ft) museum takes a rectangular form at either end
18/20
The 1,400 sq m (15,100 sq ft) museum takes a rectangular form at either end
A view of the Kistefos Museum design from above
19/20
A view of the Kistefos Museum design from above
A cross-section of the Kistefos Museum design
20/20
A cross-section of the Kistefos Museum design
View gallery - 20 images

The design for the Kistefos Museum in Jevnaker, Norway, is multifaceted and brilliant. It will be part building, part bridge. It will also reconcile the different heights of opposing river banks with a simple but deft sculptural trick. This is apt, given that will be located in a sculpture park.

Kistefos Sculpture Park was established in the 1990s and is home to works by artists including Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliasson, Fernando Bottero and Elmgreen & Dragset. The walking route around the park meanders through the surrounding forest and is intersected by the Randselva river. Currently, however, there is only one bridge in the park by which to cross the river. The new building, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) will span the river and complete the route of the park.

"We were instantly fascinated by the dramatic landscape of Kistefos – the winding river, forested riverbanks and the steep topography," says founding partner of BIG Bjarke Ingels. "Our proposal for a new Art Museum in Kistefos acts like a second bridge in the Sculpture Park, forming a continuous loop across both riverbanks. The museum visit itself will be a bridge, not a goal – and the exhibits inside an interior extension of the promenade through the Sculpture Park."

The 1,400 sq m (15,100 sq ft) museum will take a rectangular form at either end. A 90-degree twist at the center of the building’s volume, however, will mean that it is shaped like a vertical rectangle at one end and horizontal one at the other. With the vertical end of the building stood on the lower river bank, the twist at the building's center will raise the floor-level to sit on the higher opposing river bank.

With the vertical end of the building stood on the lower bank, the twist at the building's center raises the floor-level to sit on the higher opposing river bank
With the vertical end of the building stood on the lower bank, the twist at the building's center raises the floor-level to sit on the higher opposing river bank

Inside the museum, a staircase will be built into the twisted section. As well as allowing visitors to move between levels, it will be used as an informal seating area and a space from which visitors can watch video projections, performance art and other events.

Full-width glazing will span one of the building's shorter dimensions. At one end of the museum, it will act as a huge skylight, before itself being twisted around and becoming a side-facing window.

The building's glazing will have a reflective UV film to protect the artworks inside and to keep out 75 percent of solar gain. This will help to keep the building cool. The addition of electrical solar shading, meanwhile, will mean that the gallery can morph between being sky-lit, side-lit or dark. The non-glazed portion of the building will be formed of brushed stainless steel.

Funding for the Kistefos Museum has now been secured and construction is expected to begin in 2016. The estimated completion date for the building is 2019.

Source: Bjarke Ingels Group

View gallery - 20 images
3 comments
3 comments
Robert Walther
Amazing architecture. Hopefully the pictured 'exhibits' are a drunken hallucination by a homeless derelict.
Ormond Otvos
Wonderful example of both imaginative design, and support by an enlightened citizenry. I hope the actual interiors and exhibits are also that way.
deeastee
Everyone knows this shape is a copy of architect Wilkinson Eyre's Bridge of Aspiration in London, completed 2003 ??