Oslo’s Edvard Munch Museum Shakes Off Conventions With Dynamic Design
Image via Estudio Herreros
Museums are traditionally hosts for art pieces and artifacts of the past, aiming to conserve the past to the best of their ability. While this is a great way of keeping culture alive, it also means that the buildings and their galleries remain pretty static.
In Oslo, the Munch Museum—rebranded as MUNCH—is out to redefine what a museum is, and can be. 11 exhibition halls are spread out across 13 stories along with a panoramic restaurant, all designed by Spanish architecture firm Estudio Herreros.
The museum is dedicated to Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, most famously known for The Scream, and his gifts to the city. In total, around 28,000 artifacts are included. These span paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints and photographs, as well as his papers and personal effects.
Only 40% of the building is, however, dedicated to exhibitions, and these aren’t the main focus of the space. Some will also feature exhibitions hosted by other contemporary artists, as well as winners of the Edvard Munch Art Award.
Image via Estudio Herreros
Tours and activities are scheduled to take place, and the museum’s event program is filled with music, performances, film and art talks. Its Main Hall can accommodate up to 700 people, and the Top Hall is located on the 12th floor, boasting a roof terrace.
All its rooms are operationally independently, so if any of them are closed, the flow won’t be interrupted.
The towering, yet “non-intimidating,” building allows for visitors to explore the city around them thanks to its height, architect Juan Herreros of Estudio Herreros, tells Wallpaper.
“It’s a vertical museum,” he says. “As people go up they discover new layers of the city.”
Image via Estudio Herreros
Its exterior sports “recycled, perforated aluminium panels of varying degrees of translucency,” which reflect the weather of its surroundings. So, depending on the conditions, the building will either merge into the background or contrast it prominently.
Built in accordance with the FutureBuilt criteria, which states the buildings must halve their greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional modern buildings, MUNCH also strives to be a sustainable landmark for the city.
“The building is kind of moving, changing,” Herreros states. “For me, with Munch, the climate and atmospheric conditions were a big part of his art. Then, there are parallels around the responsibility of architects.”
“Munch had roots in classical art, in the past, but he was also fighting conservatism, and I felt quite connected in that way, about fighting for progress through your work,” he continues. “It is beautiful that at the end of his life he gave his work to the city, and he’s part of it.’
[via The Art Newspaper, images via Estudio Herreros]
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