SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
Balestrand Bergen Helsinki
Oslo
Stockholm
Oslo, Norway Balestrand, Norway Bergen, Norway Stockholm, Sweden Helsinki, Finland
This book explores the design techniques employed historically and in the present-day within world-class Scandinavian cities. By providing an intimate glimpse into the leading designers and designs within these countries, this book’s collection of images and narratives allows for a spread of ideas to change how architecture can be envisioned in the United States, and the larger North American continent.
Oslo, Norway Some of the most interesting parts of the architecture in Oslo are the accent colors such as gold, paired with the darker metals and stains featured on the exterior of the buildings. Repetitive geometric patterns appear throughout most of the buildings, with the most popular being square or rectangular patterns. These patterns allow for interesting ways to create unique details, but also practical uses for balconies, terraces, and water-centric walkways.
The geometric patterns that appear throughout Oslo can be seen originating in the historical Viking buildings, similar to this Gol Stave Church, which uses symmetry and repetition to create interesting and exciting interior and exterior patterns. These buildings also share the idea of creating ornate facades. The use of textures on the roofs and walls are also prevalently employed in contemporary Oslo architecture.
The buildings below are in a very popular area of Oslo called Aker Brygge, known for its shops, residential, and commercial buildings. Many of these buildings are designed based off of the flow of the river, while still keeping the ridged geometric architectural scheme of Oslo. These two buildings are a common site in Oslo which take the cubic form and abstract it based on how the viewer sees the building. Although a commercial building, the use of balconies still occurs. This is because balconies are seen as an important element for entertainment and meeting in Oslo.
The influence of nature reappears in this painted glass. The long and whimsical lines mirroring that of the long grass which can be seen in the surrounding nature of Norway. The influences nature has on Oslo architecture is extremely important to understand as it represents the idea that earth and contemporary architecture can come together to create new and unique forms of design.
Very few apartment complexes in this neighborhood and the surrounding areas use this much color. Most complexes use colors as accents whereas for this building it is used as a connection to the surrounding waterways. While the building is one of the more colorful, it still has more monotone parts, and employs the balconies as the element to express the color choices.
One of the most interesting aspects of having these two buildings next to one another is the differences of geometric facades, but both employ stilts representing the importance of the environment on technical design.
The creation of small but interesting details allows for a minimalistic color scheme, something that is very important to Oslo. The color yellow and gold show up as a very prominent accent colors within the city. These buildings use the color as interesting window and balcony treatments.
Environment also plays a key role in the color choices of apartment complexes. This specific complex includes gold accents surrounding the windows and the exterior entrance walls.
This apartment complex includes several different buildings all adjacent to each other. Between the buildings, as well as the surrounding grounds, are green spaces that feature common grounds.
This is another great example of geometric shapes creating complex balconies, something that becomes a running theme in the architecture that appears in Oslo. There is also the similar use of warm colors that appear closer to the water then deeper within the city environment; something that is critical to the development of color and design of this building.
Water is a key aspect of this water bound city. With the waterfront being so close to the buildings, the need for stilts appears. White rectangular beams or sometimes larger, more slanted beams are used to adjust weight, borrowing from the roofs and structures of the Stave churches and other historical Norwegian buildings. The ability to have a community space close to the water helps connect the communal space to the surrounding buildings, expressing an interest in not only a connection to the surrounding nature, but also within the community as well.
Lighting is a key aspect of this hotel. The interesting geometric lights create reflective patterns that bounce along the walls, creating more dimension to the plain walls and floor. The wall paneling is also crucial to the reflective nature of the hallways. Unlike the outside of many of these Oslo buildings, the insides tend to be extremely minimalist.
Lighting in this hotel is very key to the overall feeling of the interiors. Similar to many buildings in Oslo, the dark and light attributes are key to the overall aesthetic of the building. The geometric attitude of the city can also be seen mimicked within the interiors of the hotel as well as the outside nature of the city.
The Tjuvholmen area of Oslo had over 20 contemporary architects come in and change how the water-based landscape would look. These apartment complexes allow for interesting displays of design trends popular in Norway and Europe.
Another great example of how important balconies are to these architects; not only due to the fact that they allow for people to view the wharf, but also as an added room to the residents. In Oslo, the balcony is considered to be a place to entertain or unwind after a long day. These balconies are also larger then what we typically see, and is a bonus aspect for the homeowner.
One of the most important parts of the city is the Barcode District, which is mainly comprised of commercial buildings, as well as green-spaces. The Barcode District has strict codes for how it is designed, based on the history of the area. The Barcode District is very similar to the Tjuvholmen district in that both are part of the city’s revitalization efforts. This area of the city used to be where the train station and tracks used to be. They have now been pushed behind these buildings as a way to alter the area to be more business friendly. The District has also allowed for several architects to design extravagant and unique buildings, unlike any within the city.
This is the Akrobaten Pedestrian Bridge, which connects the Tjuvholmen District to the Barcode District. The bridge helps connect the old and new regarding residential and the commercial development. Replicating the geometric patterns that can be seen through out both areas of Oslo, these patterns specifically resemble those of the old Viking Stave Churches.
The idea of creating a fun and unique environment for each building is a huge part of the architecture in Oslo. Nothing looks like the other, even though they seem to have very similar inspirations. The art featured in this underpass is positioned at a unique point that pays homage to the art community while making a statement piece for pedestrians.
This path which surrounds the building is very common throughout Oslo, showing the importance of not only walkways, but of having beautifully planned and landscaped areas, encouraging Oslo residents to walk over driving. This shows the influence the government has, even on the private sector, to encourage certain design aspects.
This building in the Barcode District relies heavily on the idea of abstracting normal geometric shapes we typically see in architecture such as the cube and pyramid.
This building is in the Barcode District, and one of the more notable of the group. It’s unique use of glass and negative space makes the building stand out against some of the surrouding buildings in taking its inspiration from the shapes created when a glacier breaks apart.
Designed in 2014, the first couple floors of the building are intended for shops and areas for pedestrians to visit. Where the other floors are all business related, the architect was very keen on not only cooperating with the design codes of the Barcode District, but also with the ability to create green spaces and walkways for pedestrians traveling through the area.
This area of the Barcode District is mostly residential. The architect here integrated patterns to create interesting lines of materials including metal, wood, and glass. The most intriguing aspect of this building is how the use of moveable panels can be used to create balconies and outdoor spaces.
One unique thing about the residential buildings are their use transparent metal screens to create both useful and interesting facades. This Tetris-like building uses the metal grating to create a complex solid structure from far away, but close up you can view the true nature and color of this Barcode District building.
This building is indicative of many of the contemporary architecture trends in Norway and Sweden. For instance, a building being seemingly suspended in mid-air. A cantilever technique is an influential theme for Scandinavia, and appears several times throughout the Barcode District. This allows for more space to be used, without taking up as much land below.
These apartment buildings are some of the few in Oslo that still use mainly brick. It is very reminiscent of the older buildings of Oslo, as well as the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, which used not only brick, but metal and wood in its construction.
This apartment complex is a huge part of the revitalization of this wharf. Here we can see people enjoying the renovated wharf that matches the color of the apartment complex, allowing the focus of the area to be on the public space.
These highly uniformed and affordable apartment complexes near the airport are part of the Government Housing District. The integration of balconies remains crucial to the overall design strategy, and what is most interesting about these apartments are the windows creating a geometric pattern unlike anything seen in Oslo so far. The reason being is that each horizontal window leads out to a small balcony, informing where each of the units are located.
This building is the Statoil building, which houses Norway’s main oil and gas company. The concept of the building is to create as much space as possible which within Oslo is of crucial significance with land at a premium.
This building is one of the few buildings left from the older part of Oslo (a former train station), a reminder as to what Oslo once was, and what it has become. Today, the building has been repurposed for the modern day, allowing for office, housing, and an abundance of public space.
The old train station is also very interesting in that it connects the the districts to the history of Oslo, and the importance of water. The water creates separate areas within the city, allowing for distinct neighborhoods to be created.
Balestrand, Norway Balestrand is a small artist colony in Norway. It’s historical buildings were created with an in-depth knowledge and interest in the prefabrication process. These historic buildings are important to understanding how prefabricated construction methods can be used, and also understanding how long these techniques have been applied.
It’s buildings like these where the architectural design is most crucial. Similar to the Stave churches from the Vikings, these churches use symmetry and pattern work to create highly detailed buildings. The craftsmanship of these buildings is necessary to understand as they were prefabricated off-site originally then brought back into the city. The people who designed these prefabricated Villas were artists who moved here between the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Many homeowners who wanted a traditional style had to look elsewhere to have their homes built. This is where prefabrication comes into play. These buildings were delivered by the firm Thams and Digre, from Trondhelm, and were originally erected in 1907, paying homage to old churches and homes that made Balestrand the city that it is.
The attention to detail is important to these buildings, even down to the accent pieces of the dragons protecting these homes, which can be seen here at the Villa Balderslund. These dragons helped identify the style of these buildings, which is called Dragestil.
Bergen, Norway Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, and one of several cities being revitalized in Norway. The main focus of redevelopment is along the wharf and in the downtown districts. These areas were run down and void of housing of any kind. This is where project developers came in and created better areas for workers, families, and students. New government buildings that were also constucted would help boost the economy of the city and surrounding area.
This view of the city from the hillside allows you to see the entirety of the city at its many different levels. Similar to the rest of Norway, Bergen is all about keeping the historical buildings in tact, but also incorporating contemporary and unique designs.
This garden that lies in the middle of downtown Bergen shows once again the importance of “green space” to the Norwegian people. The space is set up into both a walkway and a floral garden, which protects the pedestrians walking through this area from traffic.
This restaurant and hotel are snuggled into the downtown area of Bergen where many of the historic buildings are located. The combination of the contemporary and the old is synonymous with the rest of Bergen, a city in which the old and the new intermingle.
One of the most interesting parts about Bergen is the way the architects took contemporary buildings and sometimes literally built them around older buildings. The building above does just that.
The Treet (Tree) Building is the tallest wooden building in the world. It is a fourteen story luxury apartment complex built by the Bergen and Omegn Building Society. The building is wellknown not only for its wooden attributes, but also for the architect’s focus on sustainable development. This building is extremely interesting in that the large wooden beams that hold the building up can be seen throughout the glass facade, which is there to protect the wooden interior. What is also interesting about this apartment complex is that it is one of the first we are seeing in Scandinavia without balconies.
Now here is a building where balconies play a the huge role in the design. These balconies help give the overall boxy form some dimension, while keeping the monotone theme of white intact. Many of these all-white buildings can be seen throughout Norway and Sweden, with the influences of glaciers and snow being a common sight in the mountains of these countries.
The building is wrapped in colored glass, but if you look inside you can see the true building which is actually sheathed in wood. While the structure looks very complex and completely made of metal, it is actually very basic at its core. The use of wood is very important to this part of country, and can be seen on the exterior of recently built projects.
This SIB Bolig building called Gronneviksoren, consists of mainly student housing in which the student can decide how long they want to stay in the complex. While the suites are mainly for students, they also recognize the multipurpose needs for students who have families or spouses. Furthermore, you are allowed to choose how many people will be staying in the suite. These buildings are also shared housing, in which the kitchens are mutually used between six people or suites at a time.
When it comes the facade of this building, it isn’t just the colorful geometric walls that stand out, but also the windows. The windows allow us to see the size of the individual units externally, while creating an even deeper pattern within the facade; one that is not static, and artfully captivating.
Many of the buildings in Bergen use stepped floors to accommodate the slant of the hills. The use of geometric patterning allows for windows to be placed throughout the facade of the building, while also retaining the structure’s overall form.
One of the most interesting parts of this building is the patterned metal. It contains diamond-shaped cuts which creates reliefs. These marks also create lines that connect each plate of metal. The use of patterning, while subtle, is increasingly more common in Scandinavian architecture.
This municipal building located at the center of Bergen, and is critical to both government and economical functions. With Bergen being the second largest city in Norway, the building provides healthcare, education, and other needs of citizens.
The Scandic Ornen Hotel is one of the largest hotels within Bergen, and is known for its ability to be used for conferences as well as being proximate to the Bystasjonen.
One of the most interesting aspects of this hotel is the atrium. The all glass element allows for natural light to pour through the different floors, as well as through the main lobby.
Stockholm, Sweden As one of the older cities, the importance of history is crucial to understanding the architecture of Stockholm. Many of the buildings use similar techniques of their predecessors along with taking inspiration from their neighbor Norway regarding their extensive use of wood. Similar to many of the cities we’ve seen so far “green space” is also very important. Many of the “green spaces “allow for communal areas to form, something that is influential theme in these Scandinavian countries.
In Sweden, the historical buildings are still every much intact. Unlike Norway, the city’s wealth has been around for centuries, allowing for extravagant buildings to be constructed. These ornate buildings would become inspirations for how the contemporary architects of Stockholm would design their buildings.
This building is also highly complex when it comes to the amount of different techniques and materials being used. On each side of the building, we can see a different design scheme, each allowing for the different units to be seen.
The green space of this courtyard plays a large role in understanding the people living in this complex. By creating a space where people can commune within one of the largest cities in Sweden, the need for green space is essential. One of the most contemporary looking parts of this building is the interior where cement, wood paneling, and the metal create a scheme reminiscent of the work seen in Norway.
This unique building resides in one of the newly repurposed areas in Stockholm. The Red Brick District that surrounds this apartment complex is one of the biggest districts for change within the last couple of years in Stockholm.
The combination of red brick and glass balconies is a very interesting contrast. Brick is an extremely important material to the Stockholm architects, similar to how wood is important to Norwegian architecture.
This small little walkway near the Red Brick District is a quintessential part of this vibrant community. The ability to take the nature of Sweden to the city not only brings more people into the city, but also creates a sense of culture.
This cement and wooden facade building stands out within the Red Brick District. The wood appears only around the balconies, highlighting their importance in design as well as for use.
A running theme in both Norway and Sweden is the mixture of different materials, and how they can create new and unique buildings. However, unlike Norway, the architects from Sweden use materials to abstract the facade, resulting in unique, abstract forms.
A theme for balconies in Stockholm are the unique uses of materials, especially colored glass. The green glass in this photo creates an interesting way to provide an accent color that mixes well with the neutral tones of the overall facade.
Apartment complexes like this use accent colors to create intrigue, specifically surrounding the windows and balconies. There is also the inspiration that comes from the nature that surrounds the grounds.
Here we see another Scandic hotel, a chain that is well-known for creating unique buildings that center around the use of lighting, as well as mimicking the patterns seen on the outside of the building with those seen on the inside. This hotel goes by the name of the Scandic Continental, one of the newest of the Scandic hotels to Stockholm.
We can see once again a use of wood to create a patterned surface. Wood is heavily used throughout these buildings as a contrasting material when inserted against materials like glass and metal. We can also see the use of stilts that are used as a design motif as well as a technical use.
In these colored panels, we can see how the interior patterned design mirrors the outside facade. The orange seems to glow with it reflecting light from the skylight above. Another theme that appears in Scandic hotels is the use of buildings within buildings. Each part of the hotel, besides the lobby is separated into sections that create a sense of privacy from the bustling lobby.
One of the best parts of this hotel is the lighting that surrounds the stairs. These lights reflect off of the orange and metal paneling to help further extend the design details.
Scandic hotels also are very keen on using natural lighting to fill their hotels. Both the Scandic Ornen and the Scandic Continental have skylights and windows that surround the building as a way to brighten the interiors. These are also two of the newest Scandic hotels, establishing a trend of leveraging daylight.
Scandic Continental is also right in the middle of the business district in Stockholm. It has become the epicenter of business conferences for Stockholm. This is crucial to further purveying the Scandic Hotel brand, which has now become the largest hotel chain in Scandinavia.
Helsinki, Finland One of the most interesting parts of Helsinki architecture is their use of textures on the facades of buildings. The use of textures allows for the running theme of all-white buildings to have unique and interesting details that one doesn’t see as much in monochromatic architecture. There are also extremely unique and interesting techniques being used in Helsinki that make it stand out as an architecture capitol. Similar to Stockholm, Helsinki also uses the influences of its historic buildings to cultivate new designs.
This moden building is Finlandia Hall, designed by Alvar Aalto and completed in 1971. The design of the structure is functional, timeless, and an architectural expression of Finland’s culture.
Accent colors are a crucial aspect of Helsinki architecture. Bright colors are used to show key aspects of design schemes, as well as drawing the eye to the building overall. For example, the building to the right uses an overall palette of cooler tones, but uses the orange to highlight the area that can be seen as a direct inspiration to the wharf area, in which this building is located.
This building uses glass doors and paneling to create outdoor rooms, protecting the inhabitants from the Scandinavian weather. By creating these glassed-in rooms, architects are employing an important theme: the need for balconies that provide enough space and visual capabilities to keep tenants happy.
The photographs shown throughout this book were taken by Jack and Mary Boarman on their trip to Scandinavia. The photographs, as well as their observations and research, are the outcomes of their travels as it relates to what makes Scandinavian structures and spaces stand out culturally and aesthetically. As a compilation, the travel log creates an intimate and unique glimpse into the region which propels and inspires the firmwide BKV Group design aesthetic.
All images © 2020 Katherine Elizabeth Boarman and BKV Group.
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