Oslo's brand-new Munch Museum rises from the earth

Oslo's new Munch Museum's foundation stone was placed by HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

Everything is now prepared for this memorial to Edvard Munch's artwork to emerge from the ground and become a new landmark in the cityscape of the nation's capital.

"This is a significant occasion for Oslo and its citizens, as well as for the rest of Norway and for art enthusiasts worldwide. According to Raymond Johansen, the current mayor of Oslo, "Oslo is the curator of the world heritage that is Munch's art, and we are now making his work accessible to even more people."

Unusual and aspirational

The most significant piece of world heritage that Oslo as a city and Norway as a country are tasked with curating is the Munch collection of the City of Oslo.

The impressive Munch collection of 28,000 works of art that the city is home to will be able to be displayed at the new museum. Additionally, it will house the Ravensberg, Amaldus Nielsen, and Stenersen collections and provide space for bigger international exhibitions.

"The City of Oslo's urban development project at Bjrvika includes the innovative and ambitious Munch Museum. According to Raymond Johansen, it is the city's investment in the arts that has received the biggest increase in recent years.

perched atop 300 heaps

In the fall of 2015, construction on the new Munch Museum's foundation began. The project had to contend with difficult ground conditions, a construction site surrounded by water on three sides, and limited access.

More than 300 piles were secured into the bedrock by drilling them through the mud and below the ocean. The new museum will have the same height above the ground as it does below when it opens in December 2019.

The tallest piles reach a depth of 60 meters into solid rock, and when they are finished, the tower will be 60 meters tall.

"The construction work has been fascinating and hard. Now that they are finished, we have accomplished a significant goal. Eli Grimsby, the construction client and director of the Municipal Undertaking for Cultural and Sports Facilities of the City of Oslo, says that the work is progressing according to plan and that they are eager to begin erecting this new landmark building for Oslo.

vertical arrangement

The fundamental organizational structure of the new Munch Museum differs from most conventional museums in that its primary operations are arranged vertically rather than horizontally. The structure has a 13-story tower that is surrounded by a podium that is 3 stories tall.

Exhibition galleries, shops, and conservation rooms will be located in the tower's closed, sound-proofed part. The open area of the tower will have walkways for the general public, rest facilities, and access to the galleries.

"Strict standards for security, internal climate, and daylight control apply to the closed section of the skyscraper. According to Eli Grimsby, the facade is translucent in the open area, putting people in continual contact with the city and surroundings.

The foyer, temporary exhibition rooms, a reading room, and a research library are all located on the podium.

"The new Munch Museum will be a landmark in Oslo where visitors can learn about the most influential Norwegian artist of all time in a structure of the highest architectural caliber.

The structure will also represent our own era and advance democratic ideals. According to Raymond Johansen, the new museum will be welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to all.

The Municipal Undertaking for Cultural and Sports Facilities of the City of Oslo is the museum's client. The architects are Herreros arquitectos SLP and LPO arkitekter AS.

Environment: Energy label A, 62% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to analogous structures. Gross floor area: 26,313 m2. Visitor capacity: 500,000 per year, 2,000 per day. Cost framework: NOK 2.761 billion.