NORWAY Travel Book Lucas Jalbert 2021 - 2022
Cover pasge picture; Credits: luissteffens.
TRAVEL BOOK Portfolio Photo Lucas Jalbert 2022
This book aims at retranscribing my travels made during my Erasmus in Norways if pictures and short text.
About the book I’m Traveling and discovering new cultures, architectures and anchored in me since my childhood. With my family I had the chance to travel a lot and Europe and American countries. This desire to travel is even more accentuated by my studies. Student in Master 1 of architecture, I had the chance to apply for an Erasmus exchange of 1 year in Norway and more precisely in Trondheim. This year is for me an extraordinary chance. A chance to discover a culture, new ways of living and perceiving the environment and architecture with different culture. Very quickly I became fascinated by photography, which is a way to express myself and to compose a picture fixed in time. It is a way to perceive the world from another angle. The architecture, the city, the beauty of everyday life and the great territory. This book is for me a way to transmit my vision of the world through my lens. The beauty of Norway and the trips I was able to make during this year of Erasmus.
First step on the Norwegian land in this beautiful city in which I will live for one year.
Peaceful city
TRONDHEIM My year starts here in the city of Trondheim where. One hour after my arrival in Moholt in my new apartment, my curiosity pushes me to discover the city. I don’t hesitate for a second, I leave my suitcase and go to the city. Arrived at the beginning of August, I discover the long days and the magnificent sunsets. I’m surprised by the size and the organization of the city which offers many green and free spaces for the inhabitants. It is a very calm and peaceful city with very colorful and low buildings. It is a first for me Norway and life in a coastal city. With all this beautiful landscape between city, sea and wild nature I feel right away in my host country which is Norway. I really like this city and its different districts which offer different visions of Norway and in which you can go back in time and history of the city. One of my favorite places is the district of Baklandet. A district full of history, life and colors. Sometimes we dare not enter the stores but I advise to cross the bottom and to observe the architecture of the buildings on the banks of the river Nidelva.
8 NORWAY
View on the fjord and Nidarosdomen cathedral 9 NORWAY
Old historic neighborhood of Trondheim
BAKLANDET One of my favorite areas in the city. There is a lot of life and color in both summer and winter. I really enjoy walking around and going into stores and restaurants. Each building is unique. Along Nidelva the air is soft and the warm colors of the buildings reflect on the cold water of the river. There is a place that I particularly like, it is the bar Antikvariatet. A space full of life where you can sit and chat, read, listen or even play music. The building and its typical architecture is beautiful. 12 NORWAY
13 NORWAY
Having a break with the sun and the water along Nidelva river.
15 NORWAY
The contrast with the white of the snow and the red paint of the bridge.
The famous Gamle Bybro bridge, one of the most famous bridges in the city of Trondheim. It is the place to observe the beauty of the Baklandet district. What is interesting is to discover it in summer and then to rediscover it with snow. We observe new contrasts. This bridge connects the district to the Nidarosdomen cathedral. Bridge was made to allowed boat to navigated on Nidelva
18 NORWAY
Rehabilitation of the old bricks buildings
SOLSIDEN One of the popular districts of the city. Also very atypical but following a different architectural principle. It is composed of old maritime storage buildings in clay bricks. What I find marvelous in this district is the rehabilitation of these buildings in restaurants or bars. This rehabilitation makes this area a very pleasant space full of life and infrastructure. I find it interesting how the new glass shopping center integrates and takes into account the existing building. I had the opportunity to ice skate between the brick buildings. 19 NORWAY
As a relic of the past I see this area as a relic and remnant of the past and development of the city of Trondheim. As a master student of architecture I find it fascinating to reuse and enhance the elements and buildings that have enabled the development of the city in connection with the maritime activities. The original elements and structures of the past are still present today and are enhanced by this beautiful rehabilitation. One thing I find interesting is how today’s architects have made a connection with this historically rich area. Beautiful brick buildings of the same color that are mostly housing. What I recommend is to experience this neighborhood by day and by night. The atmosphere changes and at night you can feel the warm and bright life around the many bars and restaurants. 20 NORWAY
As if the time was suspended in this lively neighborhood. 21 NORWAY
An escape in the middle of nature between forest, fjord and city.
Reconnecting with nature
BYMARKA Bymarka is a huge nature reserve of over 80km². A wild space but also used by the inhabitants of Trondheim that it is in winter with the ski touring but also in summer with its innumerable paths placed at the disposal. It is a place that I particularly like because it’s a place where one can escape while being very close to the city only 1 hour by bus. I walked a lot in this natural reserve and each time everything is different. This is one of the qualities of Norway, the climate, the atmospheres and the colors change all the time even several times a day. You have to be ready and have the right clothes at any time of the day. My favorite season is winter. I like to rent snowshoes and walk in the smooth and light snow. Getting lost while walking in this forest and enjoying the calm and beauty of this nature. In autumn it’s different, everything is colored with a hue ranging from green to yellow to orange. I feel free and calm, a break in the urban life of Trondheim. The paths are endless as well as the number of lakes that bring an extra touch of poetry in this landscape. 22 NORWAY
Transition from city to nature and fjord.
Vaettakkamen
24 NORWAY
To discover the beauty of Norway by walking in the nature is something wonderful. Here it is a very beautiful viewpoint at 1h30 from the city center. We perceive the city in height and its relation with the water and the fjord. What to say about this magnificent stretch of water. We feel tiny in front of the immensity of a fjord. A chance to admire the city of Trondheim sprinkled with a light white veil. I find this direct proximity between nature and the city of Trondheim incredible.
A beautifull view of Trondheim from Vaettakkamen.
29 NORWAY
Transition from city to nature and fjord.
Graekallen Highest point of the Bymarka nature reserve. A different view oriented on one side with white mountains as far as the eye can see and on the other side the immensity of the fjord. It is necessary to be equipped with good clothes in winter because the wind rages at the top. Arrived at the top it is as if the time stops the frost and the cold froze the plants and only the gusts of wind which raise the snow animate this place. A place not to be avoided to visit in Trondheim. 30 NORWAY
31 NORWAY
Take advantage of a clear day to take a break and enjoy a good hot coffee with its original Kvikk Lunsj. You should know when you arrive in Norway that following the weather on your phone is a waste of time. We can go from snow and wind to a beautiful blue sky in the same afternoon. Here we have a moment of happiness near the nature.
32 NORWAY
33 NORWAY
First road trip with friends since I arrived in Norway. One day between sea, rain, wind and landscape.
Facing the elements
ROAD TRIP STOKKOYA First road trips with new friends I met in my fall semester course. In the car several nationalities but only one envy, the thirst of discovery. To discover our host country for the year. This first road trip takes place from Trondheim to Stokkoya, an island on the Norwegian sea. To get there you have to take the ferry and cross the Fjord that separates Trondheim and the island. During this day the elements of nature are out. We had to face the wind, the rain and the waves of the Norwegian Sea. Honestly, we don’t feel much because the landscape is magnificent. The roads to get to the island are really beautiful. We were able to cross different landscapes passing from the mountain and the small village to the big lakes. The autumn landscape with the orange-red leaves changes every 5 minutes. Each place is unique here in Norway and changes according to the climate and the light. Arrived at Stokkoya I discover for the first time the sea of Norway. The famous road of the Atlantic which borders the coast and goes from island to island.
34 NORWAY
A refuge in this storm. Feeling safe and facing the stormy sea. 35 NORWAY
A window as a border between the sea en the building.
A safety place in the wild nature.
An architecture in connection with his territory.
Stokkoy Bakeri The island is home to a beautiful architecture that serves as a bakery and restaurant for some element. It is a magnificent architecture in relation to its environment. The architect used large wooden trunks for part of the structure with concrete facing the sea. What is interesting is that the roof is made of polycarbonate. When it rains or when it is windy, you can listen to the elements that come crashing on the roof. The building offers us a magnificent view between mountains and sea. 38 NORWAY
A colorfull contrast between the sea and the brush.
41 NORWAY
A day of discovery with friends
On the shorline
ROAD TRIP NES This trip is a bit special. In this year of Erasmus, most of my friends from France, from my school are also in exchange year. One of my friends since the first year of Bachelor is in Erasmus in Budapest. I was able to visit him and discover Hungary in February. This time he is coming to visit Norway for a week. I wanted to show him the beauty of nature between snow, sea and mountains. So we decided to rent a car for the day and then take the ferry to Nes. A small village located on the other side of the Fjord, west of Trodheim. When we arrived on the other side of the Fjord we had to cross the mountain part and it was a great experience. Alone on the snowy road we had to be very careful not to have an accident. On the way we had the chance to drive between the different and huge lakes which at that day were very frozen. It was the first time for friends that he came to Norway and it was a radical change with his host country which is Hungary. 42 NORWAY
43 NORWAY
A place disconnected from the world We leave the paved road for a path full of gravel and mud. We try to move forward with difficulty and arrive at the end of this path next to an old white house. To our biggest surprise we did not think we would find any houses as this place is isolated and difficult to access. The landscape is magnificent, the wind becomes more and more violent and the waves break more and more strongly on the rocks. There is something poetic to see all the elements take their rights and express themselves freely. The color contrast is splendid between the orangeyellow color of the grass, the dark marine blue of the water and the black rocks of the coast.
44 NORWAY
Being alone in this immensity. 45 NORWAY
Pause in time to observe the beauty of the elements.
46 NORWAY
A poetic contrast when the white foam meets the black rock of the shore.
47 NORWAY
48 NORWAY
A piece of nature Norway is a country known to have a great diversity of wildlife. I really wanted to try to photograph a wild animal. On our way back to take the ferry we took pictures of deer that were taking advantage of the lack of snow in the field to feed themselves. It was a great moment. It was difficult to get as close as possible without scaring the animal away, I have a very good memory of it.
49 NORWAY
We take the same and we start again. A great weekend to begin the spring well.
First week-end of sun
ROAD TRIP KVENVAER We take the same and we start again. With my friends with whom I had made my first road trip to Stokkoya we had decided to extend a little the April vacations. A very good opportunity for us to spend a great weekend all together on the island of Hitra. Three cars away from Trondheim we rented an old building in the middle of a farm but completely isolated from any trade or any other dwelling. There the fastest way to go shopping is to use the boat to go to the next village. The landscapes are really magnificent at first sight, one could believe to be in the French Provence with these big plains and high grasses with the typical big trees. Very quickly the freshness brought us back to reality and to Norway. It was the perfect place to decompress away from everything and the noise of the city. The only sounds were those of the birds and the cows of the farm. This place reminded me of my home in France of just enjoying a barbecue with friends in the garden in the quiet wilderness.
50 NORWAY
A boat waiting for the fishing season and the sunny days. 51 NORWAY
A culture of sea and fishing Arrived on the island of Hitra we are lost in a small farm which produces one of the best cheeses of Norway. We decide to put down the suitcases and the races and to leave to discover the surroundings. Ten minutes, it is the time of walk which separated us from the sea. We went towards the water following a small path made of earth and gravel. At the end of this path we came across some sheep which were almost in total freedom in the nature. The farmers leave them free to move around where they want. We arrived then in front of a small fishermen’s hut all in wood at the edge of the water. A little rustic hut with all the elements and tools related to the practice of fishing. It’s wonderful to see all these tools laying there, on a floating platform with fish heads drying in the sun. 52 NORWAY
53 NORWAY
Freedom and Wilderness At sunset I decide to take my camera and put on my sneakers to walk off the trails and take pictures. For me it is important in photography to choose the moment or we take the picture because the light is one of the most important elements to the good realization of a photo. That’s why most of the time I take advantage of the sunrise and the sunset. In addition to that there was a beautiful pink moon. The sheep are almost completely blended in between the moss and the rocks.
54 NORWAY
55 NORWAY
A cold and beautiful experience
The north of Norway
TROMSO My first steps in the Great North. Although Trondheim was the most northern place I have ever been in my life, I wanted to discover the real Norway and its mountains in the far north. First time I crossed the line of the polar circle. At first sight no change but it’s always special to think that you are in the very north of Norway and almost at the most northern point of Europe. With a group of friends we decided to take plane tickets to Tromso. At our arrival everything is different, during the winter the sun rises only at 10 am and sets at 2 pm. Everything is beautiful in winter and the light is incredible. It is as if the light of a sunrise stayed all day. We decided to rent a car for the day in order to make a big road trip all day. A beautiful day between the snowy mountains to reach the coast by walking from island to island. We had the chance during this road trip to cross wild reindeers crossing quickly the road. It was a very beautiful moment and the only moment of my Erasmus during which I could observe reindeers. 56 NORWAY
57 NORWAY
A iconic shape of Norway, the typical brige to move to the islands.
58 NORWAY
Some mountains going out in the midle of the sea.
59 NORWAY
Fishing boat.
All the fishing tools waiting for the fishing time.
A walk along the harbor
Tromso harbor An important place in the cities of Norway in connection with the Fjord and the sea is the port. Each harbor in the cities of Norway is different and varies according to the type of activities, the colors of the houses but also the weather. The port of Tromso offers a magnificent view of the church, the oceanographic museum but also the mountain and its cable car.
60 NORWAY
61 NORWAY
Mooving to the south to discover the place of the fjord between sea and mountains.
The last one
BERGEN
April holydays and the end of my Erasmus and my year in Norway is getting closer and closer. Having explored the north of Norway with Tromso but also Beiarn near Bodo, I decide to discover the southern part with Bergen. This time I decide to go alone. This trip is the opportunity to find myself and take time for me and my camera. It’s a special experience but very pleasant because it’s the first time I go alone. Known for its high number of rainy days in Norway, the city of Bergen and the region is home to a great treasure of the country. It is the region of the Fjords and the mountains. It is therefore one of the points and mandatory routes in my trip. Luckily I only had to face one day of rain out of the five days I spent in Bergen. Rain after one year in Norway is not an obstacle for me anymore, I just put on waterproof clothes to enjoy this day as if it was full of sun. I decide to take advantage of this stay to visit this beautiful city but also to hike and explore the wildest part of the region to get panoramas on the Fjords.
62 NORWAY
Colorful houses on the top of the hill. Really nice view to the flord and harbor. 63 NORWAY
64 NORWAY
The sun appearing for the time of one picture in the city of the rain.
65 NORWAY
A famous fish market Enjoying the beauty of the city and its small cobbled streets, I head to the most important place in the Norwegian coastal towns, the fishing port. The houses are all stuck together and compose a very pleasant neighborhood life with flags and flowers in the windows and in the alleys. Once arrived towards the port I noticed that this one has a double activity with on one side a more traditional part with fishing and on the other the tourist part with the ferries. I walk towards an iconic place of the city which is the world famous fish market. So I decided to stop there for a moment to observe the stalls and restaurants, but then to taste the freshly prepared dishes and fish.
66 NORWAY
Walking on the harbor and look at the different fishing boats. 67 NORWAY
A studio trip to learn more about the city and our site project for the course.
The capital
Oslo Finally the visit of the capital and the largest city of Norway. We are heading to Oslo which is the project site for our second semester. It is nice to see how a capital works and to leave the city of Trondheim for a week. Arrived in Oslo, I observe the structure of a city which lives at night with a lot of movement of life. It’s a part that I miss a little in Trondheim during this Erasmus. Accompanied by my studio class, many of my classmates and friends live in Oslo and know the city very well. It’s a wonderful opportunity to discover the somewhat hidden places that I wouldn’t necessarily do as a tourist. This class trip is really very well organized because we had the opportunity to discuss and attend conferences in very architectural firms in the city. We then focused on the analysis and discovery of our site which is Torshov, a central family district of the capital. It’s really interesting to work on a site in Oslo and to have the opportunity to be able to move around and learn more about the city. 68 NORWAY
69 NORWAY
A full wood circular wall.
Costumes and accessories ready for the show.
A monument and icon of Norwway.
Oslo Opera The Oslo Opera House, a monument in the world and Norwegian architectural culture. It is an architectural project designed by the architectural firm Snøhetta based in Oslo. The project is built following a strong concept aimed at defining spaces through materiality and color. The public spaces in white with marble and the more private spaces in wood of a darker color. We were lucky enough to be able to attend a guided tour of the entire opera house, from the interior to the backstage area and the auditorium. 70 NORWAY
71 NORWAY
72 NORWAY
The new Munch Museum next to the Opera.
73 NORWAY
A nice contrast between the two structural materials, wood and concrete. 74 NORWAY
Strombu Rasteplass On the way back to Trondheim we were able to make a few stops at some very special places between the national parks. These places host architectures and small projects which are interesting in their link with the existing and their context. The rest area of Strombu is composed of a concrete structure which comes to marry the frome of the river beside. The wood is finely linked to the concrete and is used in the finishing for the woodwork and furniture, with great precision. The southern part of the building is entirely glazed in order to warm the interior space but also to offer a magnificent view of the mountains and the national park.
75 NORWAY
The literature museum in Lillehamer.
76 NORWAY
The architect reuse the concrete and wood in the conception of thebuilding.
77 NORWAY
78 NORWAY
79 NORWAY
TRAVEL BOOK Portfolio Photo Lucas Jalbert 2022
I wanted to thanks my parents without whom this year would not have been possible, also my friend in Norway and France how helps me to make this year unforgatable. 80 NORWAY