JEVNAKER.- Kistefos Museum, a much-admired art and heritage destination, an hour north of Oslo, today [6 March 2025] announced its architect shortlist for a new site-specific standalone gallery.

Due to open in 2031, the new museum building will become a permanent home for the significant art collection built up by museum founder, investor and art collector Christen Sveaas. The project benefits from a picturesque site within the wider Kistefos Museum sculpture park and post-industrial campus.

Kistefos Museum commissioned an invited design competition with a project brief to create an original design and exemplar of sustainable design and practices. The shortlist of teams chosen for the competition’s second stage includes celebrated and emerging international architects (in alphabetical order):

• BIG (DK)
• Christ & Gantenbein (CH)
• Ensamble Studio (ES)
• Jensen & Skodvin / Hølmebakk Øymo (NO)
• Kengo Kuma and Associates (JP)
• Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture (FR)
• Snøhetta (NO)
• SO-IL (US)

Kari Roll-Matthiesen, Director said: ‘This group of exceptional architects will now compete to create a museum that both preserves and enhances Kistefos Museum’s identity.

‘We have extensive experience in commissioning site-specific artworks for the sculpture park, and in the same way, this new museum building will need to relate to the landscape and history of the site.

‘The building will not only serve as a gallery but will be a work of art in itself.’

The competition is being managed by Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) in London, specialists in international architectural competitions within the museum sector. MRC is currently involved in the high-profile international design competitions for the Queen Elizabeth II National Memorial Masterplan (London) and the expansion at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City). They recently ran the global competition for the re-imagining of Dallas Museum of Art and the selection process for the welcome project at the National Gallery (London).

Malcolm Reading, Chairman, Malcolm Reading Consultants, said: ‘Gifted with an atmospheric setting, a growing reputation and cachet in the art world, Kistefos Museum is becoming increasingly known both nationally and internationally as a cultural destination.

‘The new gallery will provide a state-of-the-art flexible home for Christen Sveaas’ notable collection and create a dramatic presence in the landscape, while also being an exemplar of sustainable design and practices.

‘We are delighted to help shape the future of Kistefos Museum and to extend their mission for commissioning outstanding contemporary design.’

After 30 years in development, Kistefos Museum, set in a wooded and riverine landscape, has forged a highly original identity. Integrating art, architecture, nature and people, its expansive sculpture park encompasses 55 world-class pieces by luminaries such as Yayoi Kusama, Claes Oldenburg, Olafur Eliasson, and Pierre Huyghe, many of which are site-specific.

Kistefos Museum also hosts an iconic contemporary art gallery, The Twist: a bridge, gallery, and sculpture all in one. A short walk away is an industrial heritage museum which preserves the last intact wood pulp mill in Scandinavia, built by the Sveaas family in 1890, and now offers additional space for art, mediation and industrial history.

The eight finalist practices will now be given a further briefing and start creating their concept designs. The winner announcement is expected in early autumn 2025.