Saaha, AS

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug

VISITOR CENTER IN SKOMAKERDIKET LAKE

SAAHA + Utmark

ARCHITECTS
SAAHA, Utmark

PARTNER IN CHARGE
SAAHA: Adnan Harambasic

PROJECT LEADER
Utmark: Jacob Schroll

PHOTOGRAPHS
Vibeke Eikehaug

AREA
82 m²

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Bergen, Norway

CATEGORY
Visitor Center

Text description provided by the architects.

SAAHA’s winning competition design for a Visitor Center at Mt. Fløyen in Bergen, aims to facilitate the use of this popular mountain landscape for children, youth, hikers and tourists.

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug

With its undulating movement, the pavilion leads the visitor from the gravel road around the lake to the walkways through the surrounding mountains.

The pavilion is situated by the shore of a mountain lake in the popular hiking area Fløyen. It is reached from the city centre via an eight minute ride on the Fløyen funicular and a ten minute walk through the forest.

The pavilion sits adjacent to the gravel road that touches the circumference of the lake. The pavilion is positioned in an existing clearing by a small stream running across the site. A new retaining wall in natural stone was built to secure the edge and accommodate the movement of fish.

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug

The undulating timber roof rests on a lightweight steel structure covering a small public cafe. The extending roof also provides shelter for visitors outside of opening hours. 

It is designed with a twist that leads you into the forest next to a small stream and a hiking trail. The pavilion is both a popular destination in itself and a natural place to rest before exploring the surrounding mountains.

Building a new destination in an already much used natural area, required a balance between creating a visual presence whilst protecting and blending in with the surrounding nature.

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug

With this in mind, the architects wanted the pavilion to touch the ground lightly while also incorporating robust surfaces that could take the wear and tear of the many users. The boardwalk following the roof is therefore also used to make benches in the uneven terrain.

In order to meet the demand of openness to the public outside of opening hours, the large roof was designed as a shelter from the elements.

As a consequence, the building is never «closed» and is very popular as a hiking destination. The timber roof cladding was mounted on-site and needs no further maintenance as it is left to patina naturally under the influence of the elements.

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug

The client needed a practical space to run a small cafe, including the possibility for indoor serving on Bergens many rainy days. The solution was to design an open, compact kitchen connected to a wooden «box» containing a staff restroom, cleaning facilities, ventilation equipment and a public restroom.

The cafe itself is glazed with an aluminium curtain wall of highly transparent glass, while the overhanging roof provides the required sun protection during the warmer months. This gives the structure a see-through quality without overheating in summer.

Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
© Vibeke Eikehaug


Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
Facade 1.150
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
Typical 1. 150
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
Context
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
Responding To Context
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
Plan 1.150
Visitor Center in Skomakerdiket Lake
Site Plan 1.100

Saaha, AS
T +47 950 77310
Saaha, AS
Østre Elvebakke 7, 0182 Oslo, Norway