Art Silo & Cultural Quarter

The Art Silo Museum and Cultural Quarter explores the transformation of industrial heritage as an urban cultural catalyst. The Art Silo is a conversion of an existing grain silo from the 1930s into an art museum holding works from the Tangen Collection and Sørlandets Art Museum. The strong significance of the existing grain silos are enhanced by a translucent volume projecting upwards and outwards with concave and convex façades. The vertical silos are embraced by a two stories horizontal gallery space, and the rooftop becomes a new viewing platform for the citizens of Kristiansand. A central installation hall is carved out inside the existing silos offering a transition zone between the various galleries. The masterplan unites the museum and art school around a new shared urban plaza acting as a threshold to the museum foyer, and a sculptural park on the waterfront unites the museum to the neighbouring theatre. The Art Silo proposal was selected in an open international competition among 101 entries as one of six finalists.

CLIENT: Sørlandets Museum
LOCATION: Kristiansand, Norway
ARCHITECTURE: Galmstrup Architects
LANDSCAPE: SLA Landscape
ENGINEERING: Buro Happold