59 architectural proposals for a new art museum at Leüthenhaven

The competition to design a new museum at Leüthenhaven has received 59 proposals, more than any of the other 50 competitions held by Europan this year. The proposals have now been made public, representing a wide range of ideas and visions for the future of Trondheim.

Today, the Trondheim Art Museum and the Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum are housed in facilities that no longer meet modern standards and public expectations of what a museum should be. By using Leüthenhaven—one of the last available downtown plots in the city—as the site, Europan 18 challenged young architects to think big: What should the museum of the future be, and how can it strengthen Trondheim’s position as a cultural city?

The 59 proposals explore how a new museum can function as a hub for art and culture, interacting with surrounding institutions, especially the Trøndelag Theatre. The proposals also offer much-needed infrastructure that could revitalize the city center.

"First and foremost, we are impressed by the great response to the competition! The submitted proposals show great diversity of ideas and visions for what a new museum can mean for the Trondheim region," says Magnus Waage, jury leader and the architect behind the Kunstsilo in Kristiansand. "It's clear that the site is well-suited for a museum with space to create generous public areas that strengthen this part of the city center as a cultural powerhouse with the theater and museum. There's room here to build a good, beautiful, and functional museum at local, regional, and international levels!"

"A museum at Leüthenhaven is about more than just a building," says Bjørnar Skaar Haveland, Secretary-General of Europan Norway. "It's about revitalizing the city center and strengthening Trondheim's position as the cultural capital of Trøndelag. The projects confirm the qualities and opportunities the site offers."

The process is now entering an exciting judging phase. A star-studded international jury visited Trondheim this week to begin the selection. The jury consists of Magnus Waage, Kotchakorn Voraakhom, Jens Richter, Siri Lundestad, Rainer Stange, Therese Øijord Rustad, and Mansoor Hussain. Read more about the jury here.

All proposals will be featured in a public exhibition at Suhmhuset, from October 4 to October 19, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (11:00 AM to 4:00 PM).

The winning projects will be announced on November 17. The winning team will receive a prize of 12,000 euros, while the second-place team will receive 6,000 euros. The winners will be included in the continued process with MiST.