tham & videgard: bergman center

the bergman foundation by tham & videgard

swedish firm tham & videgard have received first prize in the competiton to design the bergman foundation. the competition aimed to transform the two existing buildings of a former school into the new premises of the center on faro island. the purpose of the BCF is to manage and develop the artistic legacy of the swedish film director ingmar bergman. situated close to faro church and the ingmar bergman residence at damba, the new premises will be the hub of the bergman center’s public activities, including a permanent exhibition, cinema, audio listening room, library, shop, café and a cinematographic park. it will also be the base for the annual bergman week.

in their winning scheme, the two existing buildings are linked into one through the addition of a new steeply pitched roof that creates double height exhibition spaces as well as a new upper level for a library, video rooms, offices and the faro museum. the resulting reduced and prismatic exterior volume establishes a direct relation to the local vernacular architecture of faro island. it is clad with industrial tar paper, which let the BCF stand out as a new and recognizable contemporary addition in relation to its environment and the open agricultural landscape.

the exhibition space which leads to a garden

cafe area

exploded view

library

exterior

site plan