Residential Shipping Container Primer (RSCP™)

The site for Oslo’s newest Art Gallery GAD, is exceptional. GAD stands all alone at the tip of the pier at Tjuvholmen, surrounded by all the activities that have to take place when a new part of town with 1.200 dwellings, a huge amount of offices and a great deal of shops is going to be built. These containers haven’t appeared on a wrong site and are not out of track, but they are exactly where they suppose to be. The owner, Alexandra Dyvi, did come to the place a year ago and made up here mind; РThis is where my Gallery is going to open. Here at the harbour and then she contacted the architect.

MMW architects of Norway are responsible for these exclusive containers in grey steel and glass. Dyvi wanted a semi temporary gallery, and in response to this MMW made it out of the same shapes that traditionally have occupied this kind of areas ‚ containers.

The doors to the new gallery GAD opened before a year was gone after developing the ideas. A huge challenge with GAD refers to the concept of being able to move within a few days, a week or maybe two, so the architects needed to find a solution where also the infrastructure of the house could be demounted and remounted easily.

To make an open feeling MMW has let a huge amount of fresh crispy northern light through the building by placing circular windows opposite each others. These shapes bring on the history from way back where at this site many of the most beautiful ships from Oslo where built at this site. Also the traditional industry ladders/stairs gives an impression of linking it all together with the shipbuilding industry from last century. Huge safety glasses at the end of each container give wanted supply with water and weather, sun and sky. The start of it all came with 10 ordinary containers, insulated on the inside, and covered with sheets of plywood and sheetrock (gwb) all painted like a classical with cube.