Overview
Although stainless steel is ubiquitously used in our daily life, we can still be mesmerized by the way it can be expressed in architecture. This week let us explore the world of stainless steel through the case of Lillehammer Art Museum and Lillehammer Cinema Expansion.
The Lillehammer Art Museum
One can speculate from the simple Scandinavian style that Lillehammer Art Museum can be the Nordic architecture. True as it is, Lillehammer Art Museum is located in Lillehammer Oppland Norway, covering an area of 29,062 ft² after its latest expansion in 2016.
The reflective metallic cube on top of the Lillehammer Art Museum is the new exhibition hall Weidemannsalen, which houses the works of Lillehammer-based artist Jakob Weidemann (1923-2001). Weidemann, the pioneer of abstract art in Norway, was one of the most popular painters of his generation, a central figure in Norwegian art and culture for over 50 years (The Royal House of Norway 2012).
Background Information
When it comes to the Lillehammer Art Museum itself, there is some background information we cannot miss. Since its initial construction, the museum has been through two rounds of expansions to present what it looks like now.
• The Initial Construction. As early as 1964, the Lillehammer Art Museum and Lillehammer Cinema was constructed. The building was designed by the architect Erling Viksjø to reflect the architectural style of its time.
• The 1st Expansion. After 30 years in 1994, the Museum embraced its first expansion with the addition of an independent contemporary building. The design team bridged the original 1960S building with the contemporary architecture by transforming the spaces between the two buildings from different times into an art garden.
Now a few words about the designer. Both the 1st and the 2nd expansions were all contracted to the same company Snøhetta. By the time of the 1st expansion, Snøhetta which was founded in 1989, was still a relatively young architectural firm. Now it is globally renowned for their innovative and sustainable design style.
• The 2nd Expansion. After 22 years in 2016, the Museum completed its second expansion with: 1) the new space, a second-story gallery space enveloped with stainless steel facade, the symbolic Weidemannsalen atop the ground floor, a children’s workshop; 2) the new circulation through the Museum underneath the art garden; 3) two new auditoriums, one integrated in the existing building structure and the other located below the art garden; 4) two theaters and an interior renovation to the Lillehammer Cinema; 5) the renewed entrance façade to create a strengthened tie between the city and the foyer (Af Kirsten Kiser 2016).
Whether in terms of the initial construction or the subsequent expansions of the Lillehammer Art Museum, both designers Erling Viksjø and Snøhetta are mindful of the integration of art, architecture, and landscape. Take the latest expansion for instance, while each space has been created or enhanced to meet the designed functions, they stand together in a connected way to present as one whole and complete project.
Art Hovering Above a Transparent Base
The 2nd expansion is built on the idea of art hovering above a transparent base. In architectural language, the new space is a 2-story building with a children’s workshop equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows at the ground floor and a cantilevered hall wrapped in a dynamic stainless steel façade atop.
The gallery’s façade was created by the late Norwegian artist Bård Breivik (1948-2016), whose design concept came from the sculptural idea of a shooting star, symbolizing the significant role that Weidemann had played in Norwegian painting.
Stainless Steel Façade of Weidemannsalen, The Lillehammer Art Museum
The façade is constructed with driven, highly polished stainless steel sheets. The stainless steel sheets were embossed with approximately 25 cm deep reliefs. With the striking stainless steel façade, the surrounding context can be reflected in a dynamic way. Meanwhile, its appearance can shift with the light.
Stainless Steel at CIVMATS
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