Remote

The next two buildings I will highlight are in some of the most remote regions of Norway. First was the Tautra Monastery by Jensen & Skodvin Arkitektkontor. A magnificent building that showcases the cherished sun. The Monastery is located on a gated island; the gate keeps unwanted animals off, and is in a farming region (quite uncommon for Norway). This quite places places host to a beautiful building clad in large slate tiles. The time of year in which we visited are the days where the sun never sets, a time in which all locals cherish and make the most of. This building  highlights this fact with a screened roof that provides shadows and rays of light to enter the chapel through the roof while the windows at the far end provide a picturesque view of the surrounding water. While we were visiting the building, a prayer session took place, the chanting and humming of the nuns was reverberated throughout the space, adding another layer of sensation to the experience. The construction details and general detail work put into this building are something to be appreciated, see the sketches below.

The Knut Hamsen center is located in the remote countryside of Hamaroy, on the old farm of Knut Hamsen himself. Steven Holl was commissioned to design a center and museum to honor the Norwegian author turned controversial for his support of the German Nazi forces during World War II. Holl came to design a vertical building that has a unique circulation in which one is supposed to start on the 5th floor and work their way down through the galleries. The exterior of the building evokes the form of a human with hair, a rolled up sleave, and arms, a play and inside joke on some of Hamsen’s writings. Whilst at the building many of us found it hard to understand the total concept that Holl was going for, but upon my return I found a video with Holl himself explaining the ideas and concepts behind the inception of the building and the exhibition that is housed in it.

Fjordland

Onward from Oslo we ascended and descended the snow capped mountains, soaking up the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. A glimpse of snow would lead to a drop into the valley and the magnificent Fjords that carved them. This leg of the trip was less about the architecture and more about the landscapes that inspire the architecture.

A remarkable thing that the Norwegian government has taken on is the funding of rest-stops designed by architects. These are not the typical brick and mortar rest-stops Americans are used to, these are small succinct projects that encompass their environment, utilize and showcase their surroundings whilst making way for a few toilets. As the snow continued to melt and the summer began to present itself, the waterfalls raged and the low clouds and mist covered the valleys. The Aurland Outlook, designed by Todd Saunders Architects, is perched off the mountains edge overlooking the valley below. The floor on which you stand perched seems to mysteriously various out from under you, into the haze. The craft of this wooden structure is impeccable, the details of how the “slabs” of wood are seamed and stitched together; as you can see in the sketches below. As is with a lot of the architecture in the Nordic regions, the use of natural materials is very much encouraged and adds another layer to the design and adaptation to it immediate environment.

With a short ferry ride behind us, it was time to climb the mountain to the oldest structure we were to visit on the trip; the Urnes Stave Church. Built in 1130 by Vikings, the craft and understanding of a simplistic post and beam structure is what stood the test of time for this 1000 year old structure. This testament to architecture is one of a handful left in Norway, built completely of wood, many of these churches that dotted the region burnt down. Urnes in particular has avoided this tragic fate, and has come close to destruction. After the Black Death in the mid 1300′s much of Europe had been wiped out, learned building techniques and discoveries had been lost. With this came changes that affected the structural stability of the church, to fix the problem the placement of cross bracing has since been installed and will remain for the next duration of the churches life. The tar battered shingles are what weather proof and provide the dark look, especially after a brief rain as you will see in the photos below. The decorations on the exterior have a story to tell of a war between deer and snake, an ultimate tale that inspired the worship and defeat of evil (the snake). After seeing and visiting the site, I get goose bumps just thinking about the history this building has seen and been through, if only walls could talk.

From the mountains we moved north up the coast picturesque coast, taking ferries, trains, even a small cruise ship. The small city of Trondheim offered a spectacular cathedral that dates back to the middle ages, around the age of Urnes. This church was a discovery during some down time before we took an overnight train, although the interiors were closed; I hope the below photo-shoped image and provide some scale and grandeur Europe is most notable for.

Oslo

Next stop was the ferociously warm city of Oslo, Norway. First impression of Norway was snow, but not in this metropolitan city. We arrived just in time for their summer music fest that seemed to take over the entire city, this gave way to a lively stage in which to experience some architecture. First stop was the Oslo Opera House by Snohetta (2007). This building encapsulates the idea of using every surface; they take the roof and use it as a public plaza. All this seems great in concept, but seriously… it works. The locals seem to enjoy this gem them has seemed to breach itself ashore. The white marble that clads the exterior surfaces is differentiated between smooth and rough; what you touch with your hand and what you walk on. A beautiful interplay of angels and integration of steps as you ascend up the white iceberg to take in the view of the city and harbor.

Moving into the interior spaces, a great interplay takes place between the public plaza outside and the interior Opera. The inner walls play host to a diamond wall with a green back light, as the pattern moves up the size decompresses from its original shape. The walls of the auditorium are clad in wood, spaced in a harmonious pattern that gives life to the mass that fills the lobby. The mixture of materials seem to all flow and work with each other, a harmonious common ground has been reached. Below are some interior photos and a sketch.

The Norwegian National Museum of Architecture by Sverre Fehn (2008) was succinct addition and restoration. A completely glass walled and louvered building, the louvers are an extremely effective touch. As you can see in one of the below photos the structure that supports the facade is expressed on the exterior of the building whilst the roof structure is a self supporting concrete system; as you can see in some of the dirty sketches. The photo on the right shows the concrete roof, glass facade, and wooden detail; a vault that has been peeled back and wrapped.

Our first Sunday abroad we visited the Mortensrud Church – Jensen and Skodvin (2002). This church serves a true representation of a old methods used in a modern way. In what used to be a farming community now turned suburb, the city evokes a barn with the plot of land backing up to a horse pasture. A steel frame that has been filled in with dry stacked stone and sheathed in glass. This provides a great screen and in the early morning the light that seeps into the sanctuary is spectacular. The integration of materials and natural stone that existed within the site creates a landscape within as well (you may remember the photo of the two children playing atop a rock, that is this church). We stayed for some of the service and were recognized by the pastor during his opening remarks, a great experience and impeccable building.

B.I.G. Day

This day was our B.I.G day, for those of you unfamiliar; B.I.G. is a Danish firm headed by Bjarke Ingels who has taken the design world by storm with his innovation that originates from intense diagramming. Not only are his ideas and produced concepts innovative but they have an undertone of practicality. The first 3 reside in a new residential area off Orestads Blvd., which the government is using a cultivation ground for Contemporary Architecture whilst developing a suburb community.

First project for the day were the Mountain Dwellings – PLOT Architects (B.I.G + JDS) 2008. The complex itself is a stacked design as you can see in the above photos. Each unit is accessed via the parking garage and elevator system beneath, providing each occupant with a very private space in which to dwell. From each private balcony and unit, the viewing of neighbors is nearly impossible because of the depth of the flower boxes that encase the terrace in. The Mountain dwellings have received their name because of the image that has been etched and cut into the steel panels that reside on the East facade.

Right next to this complex is Bjarke’s sharp VM Houses – PLOT Architects (B.I.G + JDS) 2004. With a diagram that explores a plan that transformed the rectilinear complexes we are accustomed to into a shallow V and M, Bjarke explored what it was like to have a “front yard” and a “back yard”. By this I mean that the informal rear of the building is plain and typical, but upon transgressing into the public court yard you are greeted by some sharp balconies. These protruding balconies compose a facade full of life that appears to be complicated but upon further inspection one notices that these outdoor spaces come in 3 forms; Right, Middle, and Left, but together provide a chaotic effect. Check out the Arch Daily article for more info and pictures.

The above sketchbook page transitions into the next project, 8 House – B.I.G. 2010. This recently finished project is similar to that of the other housing complexes in the Oresund area, conceived from diagram; in this case it was an 8. The concept is to create a continual ramp for strolling and public space that can be used by all residents. Seeing that this is a large project, the photos below describe the views one gets into the distant country side and the once effective use of color and of the intersection at which the building dips down (as in the perspective sketch above).

Last but not least on our sights for the day was the Maritime Youth Center – PLOT Architects (B.I.G. + JDS) 2004. This center was created as a dock storage facility for small water crafts in a shanty town of boaters and summer goers. The innovative form of the engineered wood is what gives this project its life and voice. Similar to that of the waters that lie beyond the break water and wind turbines at sea, the structure lives vicariously through its environment. A project that is on a scale that is comprehensible and approachable to anyone is what makes it so attractive. Below are some sketches and selected photos:

Copenhagen Day ONE Re-visited

This post begins the series in which I will begin to re-visit the trip as a holistic venture.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Bagsvaerd Kirke designed by Jorn Utzon (the same architect as the Sydney Opera House). In context the building itself resembles a farm building with a very boxlike exterior as you can see from the section; picture left. Once entering the interior however all rectilinear lines disappear from the ceiling and swooping curves present themselves in concrete from. With a white interior all light is reflected and bounced back throughout the interior spaces, leaving a purity that resembles that of the heavens.

Left – Interior Chapel, Right – Hallway to offices, storage, and other programmatic spaces

Left – Strip light detail, Right – Photo from screened wall towards ceiling; including natural light from the skylight opposite.

Black Diamond Library Extension designed by Schmidt Hammer and Lassen. This library by all means makes those that we have in the States look small and below par. A well constructed building that had a cafe and patio on the river side to encourage use as a public space as well as a public library. My home for very many days to use the computer to update my early blog posts.

Left – Exterior Black Granite facade resembles glass, you can see where window placement is, Right – Exterior portion that physically bridges the road passing underneath and transitions between old and new (old is not pictured).

Left – Looking up at glass wall and system used to support, Right – Looking down fro the top floor at the circulation patterns created and paths which library goers use to access different rooms

Tis the tale of Europe

This looks like my last post while abroad, and on that sad note there wont be any pictures either. Europe has this weird thing where uploading your photos from a camera is an extreme hassel or impossible, as is this case. However I am uploading them to facebook so please check out the small selection and look out for my daily posts upon my return where I will detail each city visited and architecture seen.

Until then I will be back on American soil in t-minus 38 hours (I think…)

- Skinny Bird (me)

Russia

 

 

Finnish Architecture

 

Alvar Aalto

14 buildings in 1 week, here is a taste

 

Norwegian Architecture