"Lilla" was the name of the architectural firm Wingårdh's winning entry in the competition for extension for Liljevalchs konsthall. The new building will be lower than the surrounding house but provide 2,400 square meters of new space.
With the contribution "Lilla", Wingårdh Arkitektkontor, with Gert Wingårdh and glass artist Ingegerd Råman, won the architectural competition for an extension at Liljevalchs konsthall in February 2014. "A proposal that, with a light and playful expression, is linked to the popular spirit of Liljevalch," the jury wrote in its explanatory statement.
"I am extremely pleased with Wingårdh's proposal. With this we solve a number of problems that exist in the house – security, transport, café, shop and last but not least: now we can stay open all year round and exchange large and small exhibitions," said Mårten Castenfors, art gallery manager.
Despite the modest name, the new building gives 2,400 square meters more to exhibitions, entrance, shop and development of Café Blå Porten. Liljevalchs+, as the building is called, is located behind the pink art gallery, has three floors but maintains lower ceiling height than the surroundings. The entrance is facing Falkenbergsgatan where an outdoor terrace can also be built.
The concrete façade has 6860 embedded bottle bottoms in clear glass. Here, the jury sees a successful collaboration between artist and architect and notes that the distinctive solution promises a glittering and varied color scheme. The 166 lanterns create a grid that allows for many different room divisions and light entry.
The house houses three large exhibition halls that can be divided into smaller ones. The walls are made of white painted plywood, a grateful basis for the constant changes in the exhibition activities. In the basement floor there are rooms for seminars and smaller exhibitions.
The architectural competition was announced in March 2013 by the Stockholm Property Board and The Swedish Architects. Five architectural teams participated and the winner was announced on February 27, 2014. Two honourable mentions were given to Petra Gipp/Ulf Nordfjell/Sune Nordgren for the contribution Avtryck and to Snøhetta with Orunn Sannes/Greger Ulf Nilsson for the grant Grace.
The jury has consisted of Juan Copovi-Mena (Chairman) and Pontus Werlinder, Real Estate Office, Mårten Castenfors Liljevalch Art Gallery, Karolina Keyzer City Planning Office, Pia Krenzler Traffic Office, Carmen Izquierdo and Lucas Thiel appointed by Sveriges Arkitekter.