Press release -
Kunstsilo Named One of the World’s Most Beautiful Museums in 2025 Prix Versailles Awards
Kunstsilo (Kristiansand, Southern Norway) has been selected as one of the seven winners of the 11thedition of the prestigious Prix Versailles: World’s Most Beautiful Museums List 2025.
Announced annually at UNESCO in Paris, the Prix Versailles is an architectural award series that honours seven recently created or renovated structures from around the world. The award highlights long-term work based on a rigorous, artistic design paying tribute to heritage and landscape. They aim to promote intelligent sustainability, where culture elevates the concept of environmental responsibility.
Maria Mediaas Jørstad, Director of Kunstsilo notes, “We sincerely appreciate this recognition and are grateful to be selected among such esteemed laureates. We are excited to contribute to the vision and values represented by the Prix Versailles.”
Jérôme Gouadain, Secretary General of the Prix Versailles commented, “The World’s Most Beautiful Museums List for 2025 provides an extraordinary and particularly remarkable survey of the latest museum constructions, representing both the exuberance of youthful creativity and the maturity of the skills that inspire these achievements and make them possible. By fostering their own special ambiance, tailored to each site’s specific mission, these places deliver singular experiences to their visitors, encouraging them to open their minds both outwards and inwards.”
The seven laureates are shortlisted for a further distinction of the World Title – Prix Versailles, Interior or Exterior – which will be awarded in December.
PRIX VERSAILLES
World’s Most Beautiful Museums List 2025
Kunstsilo | Kristiansand, Norway
Grand Palais | Paris, France
Saka Museum | Bali, Indonesia
Audeum | Seoul, Republic of Korea
Diriyah Art Futures | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cleveland Museum of Natural History | Cleveland, United States
Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha, United States
About Kunstsilo
Kunstsilo is an award-winning former grain silo in Southern Norway, transformed into one of Northern Europe’s most innovative hubs for art and cultural experiences. Open since May 2024, the museum houses the Tangen Collection – the world’s largest collection of Nordic modernism – alongside Kunstsilo’s own permanent collections. Kunstsilo has been featured in Time’s “World’s Greatest Places 2024” and The New York Times’ “52 Places To Go in 2025.”
About Prix de Versailles
Announced each year at UNESCO since 2015, the Prix Versailles is a series of architectural competitions that shine a light on the finest contemporary projects worldwide. At the intersection between multiple disciplines, the members of the Prix Versailles World Jury are tasked with awarding twenty-four World Titles from among the Selected Sites – in the categories of Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations, Sports, Museums, Emporiums, Hotels and Restaurants. The Official List – which pays tribute to innovation, creativity, reflections of local heritage, ecological efficiency and the values of social interaction and participation, which the United Nations holds in high regard – is in line with the principles of intelligent sustainability, taking the projects’ ecological, social and cultural impacts into consideration.
Topics
Kunstsilo is an award-winning, former grain silo in Southern Norway, transformed into one of Northern Europe’s most innovative powerhouses for art and cultural experiences.
The museum houses the Tangen collection, the world’s largest collection of Nordic modernism, and the permanent collections of Kunstsilo. In addition, Kunstsilo showcases international digital contemporary art, temporary exhibitions, and an expanded offer with lectures, concerts, food experiences, workshops, function rooms and events.
“52 Places to Go in 2025” – The New York Times
“How a Grain Silo in Norway Became a Global Modern Art Destination” – Bloomberg
“World’s Greatest Places 2024” – TIME
