Architecture in Norway

Nature – views, topography and landscape features - is an important reference in much of Norwegian architecture. But in the 21st century issues like climate change and social sustainability has added new dimensions.

At Lista and Jæren, longhouses have been built for over a thousand years. The architects of Stiv Kuling carried on this tradition when they designed a modern longhouse that is a barn, a holiday let and an educational space all in one.   

A development in the municipal centre Asker, just outside Oslo, offers organically designed flats and business premises. The resulting urban spaces are capacious and multi-faceted. 

The tenant and developer both wanted a soulful state-of-the-art building of architectural merit. This is exactly what they now have within two inner-city buildings from the 1880s. 

By going back to raw earth and clay, two young architects aim to provide the construction industry with a cure for their dependence on wood, brick and concrete.

The historic Selje Monastery is one of four pilgrimage centres along the coastal stretch between Egersund and Trondheim. Miguel Hernández Quintanilla wants to revitalise the pilgrimage tradition with a site that brings together archaeology, design, architecture, agriculture and teaching. 

The Norwegian Environment Agency wants to make our national parks more accessible. This project has provided access to Jotunheimen for people with disabilities, and the development blends in beautifully with the alpine scenery. 

Despite the building’s significance for the area’s cultural history, Festiviteten in Larvik has long been in a state of disrepair. Today, these assembly rooms are a shining example of the value added through reuse and conservation.    

For many years, Jørn and Inger Ussing Larsen have enthusiastically been promoting organic farming and the reintroduction of ancient Nordic grains. With the assistance of Reiulf Ramstad Architects they have now built a visitor and activity centre that celebrates grain and food culture. 

In the forest at Magnor, Vestre have built what they refer to as the world’s most sustainable furniture factory. The architects of BIG shared the client’s ambition to create something humbly spectacular. 

Trondheim-architects Brendeland & Kristoffersen have designed an urban space for a future residential area in Lund, Sweden. 

The film and theatre venue, Vega, has made a strong impact since its opening in 2018 – on the cityscape, on cultural life and on people’s consciousness. 

Bjergsted Financial Park, the new head office for SR-Bank in the centre of Stavanger, is an example of the future workplace and one of Europe’s largest office buildings in timber.

Investment in roads is essential to connect the dots in our rocky, widespread landscape, but the Norwegian Scenic Routes is about more than just getting to your destination.

Can architecture change the way people feel and act? Halden Prison engages buildings and landscape actively for people in an extreme life situation.

Careful consideration of the existing buildings and the historic urban environment was a key factor for Sverre Fehn in work on the new Norwegian museum of architecture.

Haugen/Zohar architects have designed apartments for local youths at Furuset, a Groruddalen neighbourhood in the district of Alna in Oslo.

Ulstein Arena is a meeting place for sports and culture in the small town of Ulsteinvik in western Norway.