Kontrapunkt; A voice of reason for the Gothenburg Museum of Art

Abstract

The Gothenburg Museum of Art is currently facing a major redevelopment. An architectural competition has been concluded, and the winning proposal entails the construction of a new extension building together with the demolition of an existing part of the museum known as Etagerna. Built as an extension in 1968, Etagerna currently serves as exhibition space. Viewing Etagerna as a resource in the redevelopment rather than an obstacle, this thesis proposes an alternative future. It asks whether it is possible to retain Etagerna while addressing the problems and needs cited as reasons for redevelopment, while also fulfilling the goals and visions outlined by the competition. Through comparative diagramming and conventional architectural tools such as modelling, sketching, and drawing, a research-by-design approach shaped the process. The project draws on theories of adaptive reuse and argues that an architectural counterpoint is necessary to create a dynamic and coherent whole. The result is a proposal in which Etagerna is altered to accommodate new functions within the museum structure, its spatial configuration is redesigned, and an additional extension is introduced that contributes to the already built complex composition of the museum. Through layering and alteration, spatial conflicts are addressed and the different parts of the museum operate as architectural counterpoints that together form a coherent whole. The project contributes to the ongoing debate on the future of the museum by presenting an alternative direction for its development