Although diverse in physical form, Norwegian architecture seems to have one dominant theme – nature and man’s place in it. Good Norwegian architects excel at building harmonic structures in difficult terrain – and the end result is often poetic. Cottages grow out of rocky surfaces, as do roadside rest areas or public buildings, scattered across the landscape as if placed by an act of God. 'Recently, we have noticed that Norwegian architecture is the subject of an enormous increase in attention from the international public,' says Nina Berre, director at Norsk Form
see our report on the best of recent Norwegian architecture
In particular, the ongoing National Tourist Route project has caused an international stir thanks to the touring exhibition “Detour” (soon to be shown at Washington DC’s National Building Museum until May 25th 2009.
As the exhibition demonstrated, the Norwegian government is keen to use architecture as an overall tool for national development and is currently defining an all-embracing national architectural policy. In a historic process a grand total of thirteen state departments are co-operating to formulate a platform document, helping shape the Norwegian state’s architectural activities for the years to come. The new guidelines are expected to include lessons learned recent architectural experimentation, as well as uniting and renewing future national projects where architecture has played a key part.
The country's increasingly dense urban environments are being reshaped and redefined, and issues surrounding public housing provision are at the forefront of the debate. 'With an anticipated surge in the elderly population it is hoped that the new architecture policy will have a positive effect on design solutions for the elderly and infirm,' says Nine Berre, 'Were also keen to see an emphasis on eco-friendly sustainable architectural solutions.'
Right now, the best Norwegian architecture continues the landscape tradition, fusing sustainable design into some of the world's most spectacular scenery, and demonstrating that even mundane structures need never be less than exhilarating.
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Willy Chavarria: ‘We’re still so stuck in fashion‘s old guard’As part of the August 2025 ‘Made in America’ issue of Wallpaper*, we invited three creative powerhouses to comment on the state of the States. Here, award-winning American fashion designer Willy Chavarria speaks on creative resilience, uniting with activist groups, and shaking up fashion’s old guard
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Six Indian artists reframe the ladies compartment of a Mumbai local trainAn exhibition by Method (India) at Galerie Melike Bilir in Hamburg explores a gendered space
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Frank Lloyd Wright’s The Fountainhead – a shining example of Usonian design – is now on the marketThis quintessential Wright home – built in a vibrant mid-century neighbourhood – was named after a novel inspired by the architect
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A holiday house on a Norwegian fjord drinks in spectacular viewsAn elegant and modest holiday home on a fjord on Norway’s western coast works with a steep site and far-reaching vistas
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PoMo Museum opens its colourful spaces in Trondheim’s art nouveau post officePoMo Museum is a new Trondheim art destination, featuring colourful interiors by India Mahdavi in an art nouveau post office heritage building
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Tour this waterfront Norwegian summer house in pristine natureCabin Lillesand by architect, Lund Hagem respects and enhances its natural setting in the country's south
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Kunstsilo sees a functionalist grain silo transformed into Norway’s newest art galleryKunstsilo’s crisp modern design by Mestres Wåge with Spanish firms Mendoza Partida and BAX Studio transforms a listed functionalist grain silo into a sleek art gallery
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Aarestua Cabin brings old Norwegian traditions into the 21st centuryAarestua Cabin by Gartnerfuglen is a modern retreat with links to historical Norwegian traditions, and respect for its environment
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Pioneering tablet maker reMarkable’s Oslo headquarters is a space for ‘better thinking’reMarkable’s Oslo head office, featuring areas to retreat, ruminate and collaborate, is a true workspace of the future
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This Norway cabin was designed as a minimalist, coastal escapeThis Norway cabin by Erling Berg is made of local timber that frames its scenic Risør views through large openings and outdoor areas, creating a cool summer escape
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This Oslo house is a suburban cabin in the woodsAn Oslo house designed like a retreat, Villa Nikkesmelle by Gartnerfuglen, offers the perfect balance between urban and rural
