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
Architect: Peter Zumthor
Built: 2016
Location: Saudavegen, 4200 Sauda, Norway
Hours: Daily: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Cost: NOK 150,-
Website: www.saudaferie.no/allmannajuvet/
Architect: Morfeus AS
Built: 2018
Location: Andøya, Norway
Architect: Snohetta
Built: 2007
Location: Eggum, Norway
Architect: Peter Zumthor
Built: 2012
Location: Steilneset Memorial, Andreas Lies gate, 9950 Vardø, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/no/turistvegene/varanger?attraksjon=Steilneset
Architect: Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Built: 2008
Location: Rondane National Park, Dovre, Norway
Architect: Jarmund / Vigsnæs AS Architects
Built: 2014
Location: 8646 Hemnes, Norway
Cost: Unkown
Website: www.rabothytta.no/
Architect: Rintala Eggertsson Architects
Built: 2012
Location: Seljord, Norway
Architect: Ghilardi+Hellsten Arkitekter AS
Built: 2014
Location: Eldhusøya, 6530 Averøy, Norway
Architect: 3RW Arkitekter
Built: 2005
Location: 6216 Geiranger, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en
Architect: Manthey Kula
Built: 2009
Location: Akkarvikodden rasteplass, E10, 8390 Reine
Architect: Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Built: 2010
Location: 530, Fv440 170, 8187 Jektvik, Norway
Architect: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Built: 2010
Location: 6300 Åndalsnes, Norway
Hours: Daily: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Website: www.visit-trollveggen.com/
Architect: Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Built: 2010
Location: Trollstigen, 6300 Rauma, Norway
Architect: Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Location: Rv27 730, 2477 Sollia, Norway
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en/routes/rondane?attraction=Sohlbergplassen
Architect: Snøhetta
Location: Hjerkinnhusvegen 33, 2661 Hjerkinn, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Website: nvs.villrein.no/viewpoint-snhetta/
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/
Architect: Code AS
Location: Rv13, Balestrand, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Architect: Todd Saunders
Location: Bjørgavegen 83, 5745 Aurland, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
The Lookouts
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
Utsikten
Architect: Code AS
Location: Rv13, Balestrand, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
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/
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/
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
Sohlbergplassen Viewpoint
Architect: Studio Carl-Viggo Hølmebakk
Location: Rv27 730, 2477 Sollia, Norway
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en/routes/rondane?attraction=Sohlbergplassen
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
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/
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
Akkarvikodden Restroom
Architect: Manthey Kula
Built: 2009
Location: Akkarvikodden rasteplass, E10, 8390 Reine
Ørnesvingen
Architect: 3RW Arkitekter
Built: 2005
Location: 6216 Geiranger, Norway
Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days a week
Website: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/en