JEVNAKER.- The Twist gallery (Bjarke Ingels) at the
Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park in Norway has won the LCD Berlin Leading Culture Destinations of the Year award for Best Architecture, fending off impressive competition from the National Museum of Qatar (Jean Nouvel) in Doha, Qatar, and the V&A Dundee (Kengo Kuma) in Dundee, Scotland, UK.
The win by The Twist for Best Architecture represents one of two LCD Award winners from Norway, as the Bergen Assembly was honoured with the LCD Berlin Avis Travellers’ Award for Best Cultural Festival.
Now in its sixth edition, the LCD Awards highlight the world’s best established and emerging cultural destinations, recognising their exceptional contribution to cultural life.The Leading Culture Destinations of the Year awards highlight the experiential shift of cultural destinations into social hubs where visitors can explore, dine, shop, work and even sleep.
Located at the Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park in Jevnaker, Norway, The Twist is a gallery, a bridge, and a sculpture, all in one. The 1000-square-metre building was designed by the Danish star architects BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, and twists into a sculptural form that spans 60 metres across the Randselva river. It has been named as a “must-see” cultural destination by The New York Times, Bloomberg and The Telegraph, among others.
Birgitte Espeland, Director, Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park, said: “We are extremely honoured to have won the award for Museum of the Year in 2020. The Twist, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, at Kistefos Museum was a brave concept in both design and construction. It is a gallery, a bridge and a sculpture, and we are delighted by the recognition this architecturally iconic building is now receiving. The opening of The Twist has helped put Kistefos on the map and increased our visibility globally. We are very much looking forward to presenting exhibitions and artists of international importance and creating memorable visitor experiences in the years to come.”
Katrine Mosfjeld, Digital Marketing Director, Visit Norway, noted: “Huge congratulations to Kistefos and the Bergen Assembly for this achievement which contributes to putting Norway on the map as an international cultural destination.”
The winners of the LCD Berlin Awards 2020 were selected by a distinguished international jury comprised of Matthew Anderson, European culture editor for The New York Times; Helena Egan, tourism and place-making specialist; Dr. Martin Heller, cultural advocate and arts patron; Oliver Jahn, editor-in-chief, AD Architectural Digest; Meryanne Loum-Martin, founder of AFRƎEculture.org; Dr. Thierry Morel, director, curator-at-large and board member of the Hermitage Foundation; artist Ahmet Ogut; and Salma Tuqan, deputy director of the Delfina Foundation.
In a joint statement, the jury noted:“The 2020 LCD Berlin Awards shine a light on culture, art and travel, showcasing unique cultural experiences around the world. From local to global perspectives, the winners of the 2020 awards offer new and exciting opportunities to explore our relationship with public spaces, tradition, and identity. Over the years, the LCD Awards have offered a unique platform for the winners to showcase their cultural assets and reach global travellers wishing to immerse themselves in arts and culture. These winning destinations and institutions showcase just how deep the symbiosis between art, culture and travel is.”
