Lookouts in Norway: a Visual Guide to Scenic Architecture

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I’m a little obsessed with Norway. The minimalist architecture, the rugged landscape – it’s all so beautifully simple and honest. I believe it comes from a deep connection with nature: a rugged landscape demands a certain level of respect and wonder from those who live within its domain.

In 2002, the Norwegian government announced a $400-million initiative to transform the country’s spectacular landscape into a traveler’s ultimate road trip. Since then, architects from all around Norway have been designing everything from lookouts to rest stops and visitor’s centers. It’s truly remarkable to see the power of architecture when it is done in collaboration with nature and for the first time you can see all of these marvelous little structures curated in one place.

Onwards!

The Map

The Lookouts

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Aurland Lookout

The site is above Aurland, a small town in Sogn og Fjordane, one of the larger fjords on the West Coast of Norway. Aurland is three hours drive from Bergen, Norway’s second largest city. We were one of three architecture firms invited to deliver a design proposal for this site. After winning we worked on detail drawings for the project together with Node Engineers, Bergen. The project was built in Fall 2005 and was officially opened in June 2006.

Read more about the project here.

Architect: Saunders Architecture
Location: Bjørgavegen 83, 5745 Aurland, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week

 

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Utsikten

Architect: Code AS
Location: Rv13, Balestrand, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week

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Geiranger Skywalk

Architect: Østengen & Bergo AS
Location: 6216 Geiranger, Norway
Hours: Daily: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Cost: 130 kr ($21 US per car)
Website: www.dalsnibba.no/en/

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Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion

The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Pavilion sits on a spectacular site on the outskirts of Dovrefjell National Park at around 1,250 meters above sea level, overlooking the mountain, Snøhetta. The main purpose of the 75m^2 building is to provide shelter for school groups and visitors as mountain guides lecture about the unique wildlife and history of the Dovre Mountain plateau…

Architect: Snøhetta
Location: Hjerkinnhusvegen 33, 2661 Hjerkinn, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Website: nvs.villrein.no/viewpoint-snhetta/

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Vøringsfossen Waterfall Area

Vøringsfossen is the largest waterfall in Norway and has been a tourist attraction since the early 1800’s. In the beginning would view the 182 metre high waterfall from the bottom of the Måbødalen valley, but from around 1890 lookout points were built in conjunction with the construction of Fossli Hotel. Today, Vøringsfossen is one of the most visited tourist attraction in Norway, after the Holmenkollen Ski Jump Arena and The Vigeland Park in Oslo…

Read more about the project here.

Architect: Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Built: 2010
Location: 530, Fv440 170, 8187 Jektvik, Norway

 

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Sohlbergplassen Viewpoint

Architect: Studio Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Location: Rv27 730, 2477 Sollia, Norway
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en/routes/rondane?attraction=Sohlbergplassen

 

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Trollstigen Lookout and Visitor’s Centre

Located on Norway’s west coast, Trollstigen is perched within a dramatic pass between the deep fjords that characterize the region. This panoramic site can only be visited and constructed in summer, due to severe winter weather…

Read more about the project here.

Architect: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Built: 2010
Location: Trollstigen, 6300 Rauma, Norway

 

TROLL WALL . The building has a simple yet flexible plan, with a characteristic roof that derives its character from the majestic surrounding landscape. . . . . . . #architecture #reiulframstadarkitekter #reiulframstadarchitects #wood #landscape #buskerud #norway #visitnorway #instagood #love #cabin #cabinporn #archilovers #splitview #mountain #lodge #place #design #superarchitects #design #glass #window #dezeen #might #shape

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Trollveggen Visitor’s Center

Architect: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Built: 2010
Location: 6300 Åndalsnes, Norway
Hours: Daily: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Website: www.visit-trollveggen.com/

 

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Jektvik Ferry Quay

Despite the informal program, the small service building on Jektvik ferry terminal gave rise to a number of constructional and architectural experiments. Besides meeting some pragmatic functions – a waiting room and two rest rooms – the project developed to become a study on transparency and translucency, being in the northern part of Norway which is characterized by dark winters and light summers. Jektvik is just a few kilometres from the Arctic circle…..

Read more about the project here.

Architect: Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Built: 2010
Location: 530, Fv440 170, 8187 Jektvik, Norway

 

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Akkarvikodden Restroom

Architect: Manthey Kula
Built: 2009
Location: Akkarvikodden rasteplass, E10, 8390 Reine

 

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Ørnesvingen

Architect: 3RW Arkitekter
Built: 2005
Location: 6216 Geiranger, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en

 

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Eldhusøya