Hilma af Klint (1862 – 1944) was a Swedish artist and a pioneer of abstract painting. More than 110 years after producing the arguably first abstract painting in modern art history, she is still waiting for her due recognition – and a home for her collection.
A Temple for Hilma seeks to address this by asking participants to design an art museum dedicated to Hilma af Klint and her work. After studies at the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm (1882 – 1887) af Klint started her career in the late 19th century painting portraits, landscapes and botanical motifs.
The objective of A Temple for Hilma is to design a structure to house the work of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint, located in Stockholm, Sweden. Alongside the af Klint collection, the design should incorporate a secondary space for e.g. temporary exhibitions, lectures etc. – the exact function of this space is left to the discretion of each participant.
The building concept should be influenced by af Klint’s art and life. As long as choices and interpretations are clearly communicated in the proposal, it is up to each participant to decide which aspects to focus on, and how the influence should be interpreted.
The site is a located on Lidingö, a large island in Stockholm, Sweden. It lies within walking distance of public transport hub Ropsten – easily reached from the city centre – as well as of Millesgården, historically the residence of renowned Swedish sculptor Carl Milles, now one of Sweden’s most acclaimed sculpture gardens and galleries.
It was chosen due to it’s combination of easy access from the city centre and its beautiful surroundings and views, making it an ideal location for a visitor’s attraction. Furthermore, it has a theoretical availability rarely found in central Stockholm: currently unused, previous municipality plans for the site have included a large-scale aquarium and a public bath. Source and images, Courtesy of Combo Competitions.
1ST PRIZE – The Temple for Hilma by Andrea Chan
Jury’s comments: Mesmerizing and deep, The Temple for Hilma presents a wonderful way of experiencing Hilma af Klint, each visitor being led on a journey within the museum. The idea of displaying the art in specific and color-coordinated spaces promises to be truly immersive and unique, and shows an understanding of and connection with af Klints work and movement.
Layout, building, storytelling and how you move through the influences of her work and life make this project stand out. The presentation is beautifully illustrated with a painterly/graphical language, and the well-written text brings yet another dimension to the proposal by highlighting the spiritual aspects of af Klint’s life and further visualizing the visitor trajectory.
Rather than simply providing space for her art, The Temple strives to be a part of the experience, seeking to convey af Klint’s ambience to each visitor in a physical way. Overall, the project is quite dearing and seducing, just like Hilma af Klint’s art.
2ND PRIZE – Hilma’s Garden by Amy Wong And Sarish Younis
3RD PRIZE – Depository by Tobias Johannes Haag, Lukas Brecheler And Yonne Luca Hack
HONORABLE MENTION – Habitat for Abstraction by Asger Høegh Christiansen, Rasmus Helleskov Wieleman And Nanna-Rose Reinevald Broch
HONORABLE MENTION – Hilma Af Klint by Samuel Quagliotto
HONORABLE MENTION – A Temple for Hilma by Gaspard Journet, Joshua Thomas How, Cesar Tome Pizarro, Elisa Lopez Lucas And Luca Tesei
