This article is part of our ongoing series on the Top 10 Architecture Firms around the world.
Norwegians have long held the belief that every person should have the right to access and experience nature (or “right to roam” as its colloquially known). In fact, they have a word for it “allemannsretten” which means the right of public access. The main rule is simple enough – be considerate and thoughtful, pick-up your rubbish, and leave the landscape as you would like to find it. Its a notion that I believe strongly represents the spirit in which architecture is studied and practiced in the country. In Norway, it’s seems as if its not enough to build for the sake of building; a building must respect its site for it is but another living and breathing entity that temporarily occupies the land on which it sits.
If you missed our post on The MUST-SEE Architecture in Oslo, I suggest checking it out as it’s a great place to learn about the country’s biggest architectural movements. However, unlike other countries, the best of Norwegian architecture is discovered outside the city limits along their National Tourist Routes.
Our Top 10 list isn’t a ranking; just a collection of what I feel are the best firms in the country based on their perceived reputation and personal opinion. Design excellence and diversity of built work were important aspects in the evaluation, and while this list could easily be 20 or 30 names long, the firms identified seem to bring out the best of what Norwegian architecture aspires to be: a temporary respite atop the world’s greatest natural landscape.
With that said, here are my picks for The Top 10 Architecture Firms in Norway.
Snøhetta
Location: Oslo, New York
Taking its name from a nearby mountain, Snøhetta’s work perfectly encapsulates the spirit of what it seeks to represent: “a place that nobody is from, but anyone can go to”. They create everything from architecture and landscapes to interiors, products, and graphic design – and no matter the subject, every project seems to enhance a user’s identity and sense of surrounding. Some of my favourite work includes the supremely-detailed Wild Reindeer Pavilion (pictured), an underwater restaurant at the southernmost point of the Norwegian coastline, and arguably Oslo’s greatest contribution to its skyline: The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet who’s sloping white roof connects people directly with the sea.
Discover all of our projects by Snøhetta here.
Reiulf Ramstad Architects
Location: Oslo, Aarhus
An architecture firm based in Norway and Denmark, Reiulf Ramstad Architects has developed an international reputation for developing iconic projects with a pragmatic solution and original concept. What I find so fascinating about their work is the unique ability they have to take a site and conceptualize a singular destiny for it as if it had been waiting its whole life to fulfill a purpose. Some of their most well-known work includes the Trollstigen National Tourist Route Project (pictured) as well as the Community Church Knarvik; a community landmark inspired by the country’s traditional stave churches. One of my favourite projects by the studio, however, is the Kornets Hus; a modest yet elegant brick building that draws inspiration from the traditional Danish grain house to frame views outwards to the vast expanse of surrounding wheat fields.
Discover all of our projects by Reiulf Ramstad Architects here.
Jensen & Skodvin
Location: Oslo
It can be argued that no other firm on this list has made a stronger contribution to the field of building tectonics as Jensen & Skodvin have. Established in 1995 by Jan Olav Jensen and Børre Skodvin, the studio is deeply invested in the craft of architecture and examining the relationships formed between design, construction, and space. Some of their better-known work includes a Summer House in Western Norway, a Villa near Lillehammer, and the Mortensund Church in Oslo (pictured); a building that is sensitive to its surrounding environment and features hand laid stone walls resting on a steel structure.
In all of their projects, Jensen & Skodvin raise construction to an art form and they share that knowledge through a book series called asBUILT which documents one or two buildings at a time together with a complete set of working drawings.
Helen & Hard
Location: Stavanger, Oslo
Founded in Stavanger, Norway back in 1996, Helen & Hard have built a reputation for designing beautiful and holistic buildings that are in harmony with their social, material, and cultural contexts. Their fields of expertise include the re-use and transformation of existing buildings, as well as systemic and parametric design. More than anything however, their projects are synonymous with their heavy use of timber which has been widely used in several projects ranging from housing, offices, and cultural buildings like this library in Grimstad (pictured).
Lundhagem
Location: Oslo
Inspired by the Norwegian design traditions of simplicity, minimalism and functionality, Lundhagem’s work is notoriously cool. Whether its a small cabin or something much bigger, their work combines the latest advances in technology and sustainability to deliver buildings that are economic and sensitive to their surrounding environments. One of my favourite projects is Cabin Knapphullet – a tiny concrete and glass shelter nestled against a large rock face. While best known for their cabins and villas, more recently Lundhagem (in collaboration with Atelier Oslo) have completed the Deichman Bjørvika Central Library (pictured), a remarkably detailed building that sits proudly next to the iconic Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.
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Studio Carl-Viggo Holmebakk
Location: Oslo
One of the most recognized and celebrated architecture practices in Norway, Studio Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk was first established in Kabelvåg back in 1990. Since 1993 the studio has been located in Oslo where Hølmebakk manages a small office of 5-6 employees together with his partner Elisabeth Øymo. Focusing mostly on small and medium-sized architecture and planning projects, the office maintains an independent professional standard where each assignment is treated as being special, something that has always been of great importance to the office. Their most important work includes the breathtaking Vøringsfossen Waterfall Area (pictured) featuring a jagged metal stair bridge over a waterfall, and the Bjerkebæk Visitors Center – a rural building featuring an elongated glass façade topped by in-situ concrete beams resting on thin cylindrical columns.
Discover all of our projects by Studio Carl-Viggo Holmebakk here.
Saunders Architecture
Location: Paradis (near Bergen)
Founded in 1998 by Canadian architect Todd Saunders, Saunders Architecture is guided by a strong design sensibility that is rooted in its time and place. Their designs appear as extensions of the landscape; using form, materials, and texture to evoke a sense of discovery while playfully crafting the human experience upon it. Some examples of this include the dramatic Aurland Lookout set amidst a fjord and protected landscape, as well as the award-winning (and five-star) Fogo Island Inn that sits perched above the rugged terrain of Atlantic Canada.
Discover all of our projects by Saunders Architecture here.
Knut Hjeltnes Sivilarkitekter mnal AS
Location: Oslo
Knut Hjeltnes was born in Drøbak, Norway in 1961 and was raised in Ås, a small university town south of Oslo. He studied at the Norwegian Institute of Technology in Trondheim from 1980-86 and during the latter half of his studies worked for 4B Architects. Since 1988 he has had his own practice while teaching at the Oslo School of Architecture between 1988-2016, the last 12 years as a professor. The studio, Knut Hjeltnes Sivilarkitekter mnal AS, was established in Oslo as a one-man practice and slowly expanding to its current size of six employees. The office concentrates on houses, weekend houses and smaller public works like this mountain cafe along the Norwegian Tourist Route (pictured). In a period over several years in the 1990’s Hjeltnes also cooperated with Haga and Grov architects in Stavanger.
Discover all of our projects by Knut Hjeltnes here.
Atelier Oslo
Location: Oslo
An emerging young architecture studio in Norway, Atelier Oslo was founded in 2006 by Nils Ole Bae Brandtzæg, Thomas Liu, Marius Mowe and Jonas Norsted. Best known for their environmentally friendly and minimalistic homes like House on an Island or Cabin at Norderhov, one of their most important projects to-date is the recently opened (and visually stunning) Deichman Bjørvika Central Library in Oslo. Done in collaboration with architecture practice Lundhagem, the project shows the studio’s versatility in working across multiples scales and typologies. Their working method is rooted in curiosity and interdisciplinary collaboration, and leads to innovative and sustainable solutions.
Discover all of our projects by Atelier Oslo here.
Manthey Kula
Location: Oslo
Established in 2004 by Beate Hølmebakk and Per Tamsen, Manthey Kula’s work has been presented in architecture exhibitions and collections worldwide including some projects being nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2022. Manthey Kula is widely recognized in Norway and abroad for their unique and acutely site-specific architecture that works at the intersection of art, architecture, and landscape architecture. Their practice takes on distinctively sculptural and expressionistic qualities that pay special attention to site, form, and narrative. One of my favourite projects of theirs is the Forvik Ferry Port (pictured), a small service facility that features an upside-down vaulted roof that cantilevers over the site and the interior waiting area.
Special thanks to Cristian Ştefănescu of Norwegian architecture studio a-works for his assistance in the preparation of this article.
Notable Omissions
In a country with such a rich architectural culture such as Norway’s, identifying just 10 firms does not do justice to the incredible work that has and is being undertaken. Typically in this section, we would identify some of the toughest omissions as a way to acknowledge and recognize their work. However, in this case I think something more is needed which is why I’m pleased to announce the following article now in development:
Emerging Architecture Firms in Norway (future story)
What firms do you think should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
1 Comment
Beata Brzoza
kaleidoscope (bergen)