Rainwater leaks into the newly built art gallery Liljevalchs

The expansion of Liljevalchs konsthall, or Liljevalchs + as it is also called, has received a lot of criticism in recent years.

In addition to extensive delays, the building was awarded the Kasper Turkey Prize for the ugliest new construction of the year 2020.

This month, the new art gallery was inaugurated, where it has now been discovered that water is leaking into two exhibition spaces.

But according to Mårten Castenfors, head of Liljevalch's art gallery, this is something that can often happen to new buildings.

- Since this is a new house, there are always some tuning options.

We are aware of the water leaks and this is not news to us.

This is something we fix, says Mårten Castenfors.

Discovered by visitors

It was the other day that a visitor discovered that the building had two water leaks.

One leaked in a small hall by the window and another in a joint in the upper hall that took in water when the building was exposed to heavy rain for the first time.

- There is a lot in this shed that we discover now when we start it in operation.

I usually tell my staff that in three months, then the shed will be absolutely finished.

It is always the case in large projects that there are things that hang around.

These water leaks are things that occur that we fix, says Mårten Castenfors.

Would be a defense of art

The 2400 square meter building is created entirely of concrete and has been planned and built since 2013. Liljevalchs has previously stated that the building should be a "defense of art" and "withstand the harsh climate".

- It is a defense of art.

These two marginal leaks do not threaten art.

On the contrary, they will be addressed so that the art will be in absolute safety and in a perfect climate, says Mårten Castenfors.

How come you got water leaks?

- This is an extremely complex and complicated construction.

The fact that problems and challenges arise in this construction is nothing new.

It is expected.

When you make such an extreme building, there are things that must be fixed before everything rolls.

So it's not strange, says Mårten Castenfors.

According to Mårten Castenfors, there is no risk that the art will be damaged by moisture. He hopes that the problems can be fixed within a week or so, until the business rolls on as usual.