The iconic building marked Kristiansand's first encounter with functionalism when it was constructed in 1935, serving as an emergency storage facility for the State Grain Administration and for grain storage for Christianssands Mills. The architects behind the project were Arne Korsmo and Sverre Aasland, and the grain silo was the first building in Norway to be erected using slipform construction technology. The mill ceased operations in 2008, and in 2010 the Kristiansand City Council decided that the silo should be preserved.

The Kunstsilo Foundation (formerly Sørlandet Art Museum) moved into the transformed grain silo, now an art museum, in 2024. Kunstsilo offers both the local population in Kristiansand and visitors an entirely new destination for art and cultural experiences.

At Kunstsilo, the museum is increasing its exhibition space fivefold, with, among other things, three dedicated exhibition floors where the art museum displays its own collections, including the nationally and internationally renowned Tangen Collection, described by art experts as the largest and most important collection of Norwegian and Nordic modernist art from the period 1930–1980, as well as international digital contemporary art and temporary exhibitions.

In addition to art exhibitions, Kunstsilo serves as a venue for lectures, concerts, culinary experiences, celebrations, and events for children and young people. It is located right next to the Kilden theatre and concert hall, further enhancing the new district on the former industrial site at Odderøya and providing yet another meeting place for people of all ages.

In 2025, Kunstsilo won the Building of the Year 2024 Award in Norway, with the jury noting that the response had exceeded all expectations and put Kristiansand on the international map. The jury highlighted the high standards set for the final result and emphasized the excellent cooperation and teamwork involved.

Kunstsilo has attracted international attention since opening in May 2024 and was crowned World’s Most Beautiful Museum by Prix Versailles in December 2025.

WSP provided project management for Kunstsilo on behalf of the Kunstsilo Foundation.

Area (sqm)
8,612
Floors
9
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Location

  • Kristiansand, Norway

Client

  • Stiftelsen Kunstsilo (Kunstsilo Foundation)

Architect

  • Mestres Wåge Arquitectes og Mendoza Partida/ BAX

Project status

  • 2018-2024
Transforming a grain silo into an art museum is quite unique. The major x-factor in the project, and in the finished building, is that the upper 12 metres of the silo tubes have been preserved and are left ‘hanging in mid-air’. The rest of the interior has been removed, creating the space known as ‘Silosalen’. The news channel CNN has listed Kunstsilo as one of the world’s most significant new architectural masterpieces in 2024, which is incredibly cool. I absolutely recommend everyone to pay a visit!

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