Renzo Piano-designed arts centre to open in Sweden

Vandalorum scheduled for autumn 2010

By Clemens Bomsdorf | Web only
Published online 16 Sep 09 (Museums)

Renzo Piano presents his plans for the Vandalorum art and design centre

Copenhagen. An arts centre designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano is scheduled to open in autumn next year in Värnamo, in the province of Småland, southern Sweden. “The construction will start this October and inauguration should take place a year later,” project leader Sune Nordgren told The Art Newspaper. The centre, called Vandalorum, will consist of educational facilities for designers as well as exhibition space for art and design. A first concept for the building was presented by Piano in 1998, but the project has been delayed due to lack of funds. “Now we have raised SEK60m [£5.2m], enough to start the first section,” said Nordgren. The funding comes entirely from private means, and the Carl-Olof and Jenz Hamrin foundation has contributed the largest share, SEK20m (£1.7m). The idea for Vandalorum originally came about in 1984 when the regional archive of design history in Småland needed new facilities. The centre’s first phase will consist of 2,700 sq. m, with 400 sq. m for exhibition space. “We will show design and contemporary art, and may build up a collection as well,” said Nordgren, formerly director of the Baltic in Gateshead, UK (1998-2003) and the Norwegian National Gallery in Oslo (2003-06).