Prix Versailles: Kebony celebrates the victory of the Kunstsilo project

The Prix Versailles annually recognizes the most outstanding contemporary architectural achievements worldwide. Among this year's winners is Kunstsilo, the new flagship museum on the island of Odderøya, Norway. For this iconic project, Kebony Character wood was chosen to clad the building's main terrace and rooftop terrace.

On Odderøya, near Kristiansand, Kunstsilo has established itself as one of the most ambitious cultural centers in Northern Europe. This former grain silo, dating from 1935, has been completely reinvented as a leading modern art museum in the Nordic countries.

Announced annually at UNESCO since 2015, the Prix Versailles recognizes recent architectural achievements in eight categories. The projects celebrate innovation, creativity, connection to local heritage, and environmental performance. On December 4th, Kunstsilo received major international recognition by winning the 2025 Prix Versailles in the "Most Beautiful Museums in the World" category. It was the only Nordic museum among the seven finalist projects.

Rather than constructing a new building, the architects chose to transform the existing one, offering a successful model of reuse, simplicity and circularity.

Kebony Character wood, used on several exterior elements, extends this sustainable approach. Developed in Norway, the Kebony process is based on a patented technology: certified resinous wood species are heated with a bio-based liquid, modifying their cellular structure to give them the durable properties of tropical woods, while preserving natural resources.

In addition to its technical performance—high resistance, stability, and maintenance-free operation—wood softens the contrast with concrete and steel, bringing warmth and elegance to the overall design. Its silvery patina, which will gradually develop, will allow it to blend harmoniously with the other materials.

For Maria Mediaas Jørstad, director of the Kunstsilo museum: “We are extremely proud to be among such large-scale international projects. Winning the Prix Versailles is a source of immense pride and reflects the commitment of all the teams that contributed to this project.”