Northface House / Element Arkitekter AS

Architects: Element Arkitekter AS
Location: Stavanger, Norway
Design Team: Cathrine Vigander, Vidar Kutsen, Hallvard Huse, Alexander Wærste
Consultants: Boye og Waage & Co AS, Jan Petter Dybdahl AS and Moelven Massivtre AS
Gross area: 277 sqm.
Completion: 2010
Photographs: Element Arkitekter AS

The existing house was built in 1969 as a twin to the neighboring building. It did not function well to the demands of 2008-living, neither in the room sizes nor in their solutions, and it had generally a need for restoration work.

Element, together with the client, has come to a solution where mainly the bottom two stories are rehabilitated while the top story is replaced with a lighter and more open construction which opens up towards a grand view of the fjord. This is a big change from the earlier situation where it was necessary to go down a level to see the view.

The top volume is 3 meters cantilevered over the rest of the volumes and is pulled away from the road to make room for a larger sun deck towards the south and to let more light into the building. This deck is also thereby sheltered from the northern wind.
The architectural expression strengthens the qualities on the site and reflects its norhtern orientation. At the same time it respects the existing constructive principles.