Snøhetta

Tverrfjellhytta

Tverrfjellhytta
© diephotodesigner.de

TVERRFJELLHYTTA

 Snøhetta

ARCHITECTS
Snøhetta

CONTRACTOR, WOOD
Djupevaag Ship Builders AS

CATEGORY
Installations & Structures, Cultural Architecture

 YEAR
2011

PHOTOGRAPHS
diephotodesigner.de, Ketil Jacobsen

MANUFACTURERS
Focus, Romerike peis og varme AS

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Dr.Techn. Kristoffer Apeland AS, Trond Gundersen

CONTRACTOR, WOOD
Djupevaag Ship Builders AS

SUBCONTRACTOR, GLASS
Skandinaviska glassystem

SUBCONTRACTOR, STEEL
Lonbakken AS

COST
4.0 mill. NOK (Total construction cost pavilion)

CLIENT
Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Kristoffer Apeland, Trond Gundersen

INTERIOR AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Snøhetta Oslo AS

INTERIOR AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Snøhetta Oslo AS

ARWAD
900.0 ft2

PROJECT TEAM
Knut Bjørgum, Kjetil T. Thorsen, Erik Brett Jacobsen, Margit Tidemand Ruud, Rune Grasdal, Martin Brunner, Heidi Pettersvold

Tverrfjellhytta
© Ketil Jacobsen

Text description provided by architect.

The Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion is located at Hjerkinn on the outskirts of Dovrefjell National Park, overlooking the Snøhetta mountain massif.

The 90m2 building is open to the public and serves as an observation pavilion for the Wild Reindeer Foundation educational programmes. A 1,5km nature path brings visitors to this spectacular site, 1200 meters above sea level.

Tverrfjellhytta
© diephotodesigner.de
Tverrfjellhytta
© Ketil Jacobsen

BACKGROUND

Dovrefjell is a mountain range that forms a barrier between the norther and southern parts of Norway. It is home to Europe’s last wild reindeer herds and is the natural habitat for many rare plants and animals.

A long history filled with travellers, hunting traditions, mining, and military activities has left its mark on this land. In addition to the natural and cultural landscape, the Dovre mountains also holds significant importance in the Norwegian consciousness.

Tverrfjellhytta
© diephotodesigner.de
Tverrfjellhytta
© Ketil Jacobsen

National legends, myths, poetry (Ibsen) and music (Grieg) celebrate the mystic and eternal qualities of this powerful place. The founding fathers of the Norwegian constitution are ”agreed and faithful, until the fall of Dovre!”

ARCHITECTURAL IDEA

This unique natural, cultural and mythical landscape has formed the basis of the architectural idea. The building design is based on a rigid outer shell and an organic inner core.

The south facing exterior wall and the interior create a protected and warm gathering place, while still preserving the visitor’s view of the spectacular panorama.

Tverrfjellhytta
© Ketil Jacobsen

Considerable emphasis is put on the quality and durability of the materials to withstand the harsh climate. The rectangular frame is made in raw steel resembling the iron found in the local bedrock. The simple form and use of natural materials reference local building traditions.

However, advanced technologies have been utilized both in the design and the fabrication process. Using digital 3D-models to drive the milling machines, Norwegian shipbuilders in Hardangerfjord created the organic shape from 10 inch square pine timber beams.

The wood was then assembled in a traditional way using only wood pegs as fasteners. The exterior wall has been treated with pine tar while the interior wood has been oiled. The pavilion is a robust yet nuanced building that gives visitors an opportunity to reflect and contemplate this vast and rich landscape.


Tverrfjellhytta
plan
Tverrfjellhytta
typical section
Tverrfjellhytta
elevations

Snøhetta
T +47 24 156060
Snøhetta
Skur 39, Akershusstranda 21, 0150 Oslo, Norway