THE TWIST

The Twist

The geometry-bending Bjarke Ingels art space that spans a Norwegian river

From a distance, it's easy to mistake this building from architectural superstar Bjarke Ingels, aptly named 'The Twist’, as a set from a near-future science fiction movie. It wouldn't have looked out of place in Alex Garland's Ex Machina, which was partly shot at a location not far from here. Stretched over a river in the gargantuan Kistefos Sculpture Park in Norway, 'The Twist' is actually an art gallery designed to contain works from some of the biggest names in art right now.

Built around a historic pulp mill, 'The Twist' was conceived from a simple idea; warping a traditional bridge shape by 90 degrees to create a sculptural form, while still being effective as a space.

This change in angle also cleverly conceals a simple but effective detail: each side of the riverbank is at a different elevation.

The shift allows for an internal staircase without disrupting the external form of the building. Inside, the shifting shape of the ceilings and walls mimics a camera's aperture; always framing the end destination at the other side of the bridge and inviting you to journey onwards.

The change in angle also cleverly conceals a simple but effective detail: each side of the riverbank is at a different elevation.

Artworks from the likes of Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, and Olafur Eliasson are all inside these stark white walls, presented in a largely unstructured format. Much like the view from outside, this project is all about the joy of discovery and pure exploration.

Visitors can enter from either side of the bridge, journeying through the exhibition spaces at their leisure, or simply use the space as a place to rest and reflect. After all, with an unobstructed view of a seemingly endless expanse of Norwegian forest, it's the perfect place to simply soak it all in.