Like any good architect, Steven Holl finds inspiration in unexpected places. His award-winning Swiss residence was inspired by the black rocks and white snow of the Swiss Alps. And this project, a museum in Hamarøy, Norway, is inspired by the writing of Knut Hamsun, Norway’s most inventive 20th century writer. While the structure at first glance seems a bit austere, its design concept, described as “building as body,” is rich and poetic, serving as a narrative that “tells many contrasting tales and constantly revitalizes Hamsun’s writing.” The museum will include exhibition areas, a library, cafe and auditorium, topped off by a roof garden whose long grass reflects traditional Norwegian sod roof design.
Structurally, the building consists of a tarred black wood facade, characteristic of the region’s Norse churches. This dark skin is punctuated by ‘hidden impulses’ that provide visual interest into the interior. In stark contrast, the interior’s white-painted concrete interiors engage visitors by reflecting rays of light whose intensity changes throughout the year. “These strange, surprising, and phenomenal experiences in space, perspective, and light provide an inspiring frame for exhibitions… The building is conceived as an archetypal and intensified compression of spirit in space and light, concretizing a Hamsun character in architectonic terms.” says Holl.
Originally commissioned in 1994, the building’s construction will now move forward, located close to the author’s childhood farm and scheduled to open in time for Hamsun’s 150th birthday in August of 2009.
+ Steven Holl Architects
Dear Ann. Knut Hamsun symphasised National Socialist views in the early 1930s -just like millions of other naive people all over Europe at that time. Anyone who made the effort to sit down and read one of Knut Hamsuns books will understand that he is not a fascist –literally. Naive? perhaps! Traditionalist? yes! PS: Have you read any of his books?
This building looks like a smurf. It makes me laugh out loud.
I like it. I think it is entertaining, interesting and has a spirit about it that i think a lot of architecture is lacking.
to each their own. i think it’s beautiful.
well, even if it looks ugly from here, holl’s buildings tend to be low on exterior beauty and high on incredibly experiential spaces- i’d trust his track record over some pour renderings.
The exterior aesthetic makes me want to dance around it like a chimp, throwing bones in the air. But then again, what doesn’t make me want to do that… . . . . ?
I like it.
Norse stave churches are black or brown.
And, it’s accessible,
something I care about.
P.S. Knut Hamsun was a fascist–literally. Sided with the Nazis when they invaded Norway if I remember correctly. Glad to be corrected if I’m wrong about this, but I think he did. —A.
Isn’t this thing a bit short on light?
wow, that building is really ugly!
Having a ‘design concept’ does not make a building beautiful. It looks like a blight upon the land.